Social and Genomic Constructions of Chimera

Journal of Futures Studies, February 2007, 11(3): 47 60 H.G. Well's novel The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896) is based on a brilliant but mad scientist who explores the "plasticity of life" via recombinant human and non-human DNA (Brem and Amjar, 2003). While the consequential chimera (transgenics) are endowed with human reason their proclivity towards reverting to their previous "animal" selves remains an insurmountable dilemma for Dr. Moreau. In the 1997 movie the problem of animal reversion is controlled by a small chip which is placed in bodies of chimeras. When the chip is switched on by Dr. Moreau it causes excruciating pain, thus rendering the chimera into submission. In the final scene in the 1997 movie, one of the surviving chimeras, who is called "Sayer of the Law" intimates that the ontological distance between non-human animals and human beings cannot be bridged – each must follow its "natural" destiny. Wells novel and subsequent movies challenge societal constructions of human/animal interface. The notion of the chimera has significant currency in popular culture and the product driven world of biotech companies. In this paper I will locate chimera at three various sites: mythological/anthropological; chimera and genetic commerce, and future chimeric embodiments. My intention is to provide some insight Abstract