The movie E.T. (1982) explains the concept of evolution through the differences between aliens and humans, and explores how modern biotechnology can change humanity. It discusses whether advances in biotechnology will bring about the end of Homo sapiens or create a new humanity with a better life, and raises social and ethical issues.
In the movie E.T. (1982), aliens are shown as human-like beings who collect samples from Earth and interact with the young Elliot. However, the aliens in the movie are far from what we think of as “human”. Just as our distant ancestors, the apes, are different from us, so are aliens and humans. This difference is due to biological evolution. However, in modern times, evolution has become artificial and rapid, rather than natural and over a long period of time, like apes becoming Homo sapiens. Through the field of “biotechnology,” humans are evolving all species to their advantage, and will eventually evolve humanity itself to create new humans. In his book Sapiens, history professor Yuval Harari describes the process of human evolution and the creation of a new human species as “the end of Homo sapiens.
In this article, I will explain what biotechnology is and how it brings about the end of Homo sapiens in relation to human desires.
The field of biotechnology first sprouted when we realized that life is organized down to the cellular and nuclear level. It became possible to manipulate genes to give a species completely new, previously undiscovered traits, and from there, to even splicing parts of one individual into another. This progress has naturally led to research that is relevant to humans, and we’ve had some great successes, such as manipulating the genes of E. coli and several species of fungi to create insulin to treat diabetes. These achievements are not limited to the medical field, but have been applied to various fields such as agriculture and environmental engineering, contributing to improving the quality of human life.
However, biotechnology is not just making progress. Biotechnology research almost always involves the use of living organisms, which inevitably involves the sacrifice of human subjects. This practice of sacrificing non-vocalized subjects is socially criticized, and it affects research. In addition, people today often resist the idea of humans taking over some of nature’s roles, or feel that the rapid pace of progress is too fast to use the technology wisely. As a result, biotechnology research is currently limited to less socially objectionable organisms such as plants, bacteria, fungi, and insects.
But humans are not going to stop progressing. There are good reasons for science to continue to advance. It’s to cure diseases and save people’s lives. That shouldn’t make anyone sick to their stomach. As a species, Homo sapiens, we are not immortal, and the scientists who study us will continue to explore and learn more about us. In the process, the day will eventually come when humans will be combined with the technology of genetic manipulation. As long as humanity’s desire to live without disease and without dying persists, curbing progress will only be a temporary measure.
In the early stages of progress, the costs will be enormous, and only a few people will benefit from the research. But as we progress, we will change all of us to live longer, healthier lives, and at some point, we will be transformed from a species called Homo sapiens into a new species. This is different from the process of changing the properties of plants to increase crop yields. If we stop evolving from extending and expanding the characteristics of a species, like corn, which is resistant to pests and has increased production, Homo sapiens will still exist, but if it becomes as different from what we think of as “humanity” in terms of life, reproduction, nature, etc. as corn is from a tree, we will no longer be able to call humanity a species called Homo sapiens.
The field of biotechnology, which has evolved from the creation of desired traits in living organisms, is not limited to animals or plants, but can be developed for all species, including humans. Although such research is currently stagnant due to social criticism and rejection, if we cannot completely eliminate the basic human desire to live a better life, research on humans will proceed, and the end of Homo sapiens will be at the end of this research. In the end, the end of Homo sapiens is caused by our desire to be better than we are. The important thing is that this whole evolutionary process is voluntary. While people often think of the “end of the world” as a batting average event, such as the extinction of the dinosaurs by a natural disaster, the end of Homo sapiens is a voluntary process of evolving into a species that is healthier, longer-lived, and capable of satisfying our basic desires. The nature of a voluntary end is that it is unforced and step-by-step, so progress may be inhibited or halted at certain points, and it may take longer than we think, but conversely, because it is voluntary, there is a sense of necessity and urgency, and as time passes and progress is made, the species Homo sapiens will continue to move toward its end.
We are at a point in time where we need to think seriously about the pace and impact of biotechnology. The changes that biotechnology will bring go beyond simply improving our physical characteristics; they have the potential to alter our very identity. These changes bring with them social, cultural, and ethical issues that need to be fully debated. The future of scientific and technological advances is difficult to predict, but whether the changes will be positive or negative depends on our choices and preparation. As humanity continues to dream of a better future, we should pay close attention to the role biotechnology will play along the way.
Human evolution is far from over, and the process is still ongoing. Advances in biotechnology are just one part of the future we are building. The path ahead is uncertain, but humanity will continue to push its limits. This may not mean the end of Homo sapiens, but rather a new beginning. We have done so in the past, and we will continue to survive and thrive through challenge and change. Biotechnology is part of that challenge, and we will shape the outcome together.
