Splice

Splice is a science fiction movie which focuses about scientists and human-animal hybrid to
revolutionize modern science/medicine. From the title itself, gene splicing is a technique used in genetic
engineering where the DNA of a living thing is edited, in some cases replacing existing genes with genes
taken from another plant or animal. The focal point of this movie is science because branch of science
was involved in different events. For example, the artificial womb which shows how the baby develops.
Genetic splicing was also present. When the scientists also get a sample of Dren's cell and viewed it in
the microscope, this event shows how cell rapidly increases. Also, the study of different organisms to
discover essential drugs and medications were also present. The scenes also revolve entirely in two
scientists’ couple that conducts experiments in genetic engineering. The two couples hope to achieve
fame by splicing animal DNA to create hybrids for medical use at the company N.E.R.D. (Nucleic
Exchange Research and Development). Previously, they'd done successful creation through Fred and
Ginger. Fred is a dog-sized vermiform creature intentionally made as mate for his female specimen,
Ginger. The two animate being can be source of protein or protein can be extracted through them for
commercial drug production. The protein that has been extracted will also be used as a remedy for
those people who have protein deficiency. But unexpected thing happened, the live media event
promoting Fred and Ginger turns into a complete fiasco when Ginger and Fred start fighting and this
raging battle yield to death. The main reason of this occurrence is, Ginger turns from female to male due
to hormonal changes (which is mentioned in the movie), and fights Fred (who was male from the start)
during a press conference that unleashes a shower of blood on the crowd. They are not suitable to be
mates because they have the same sex characteristic.

After the creation of Fred and Ginger, secretly, they decided to generate life form with human
characteristic by splicing DNA of multiple animals as well as human DNA. Clive and Elsa create Dren, a
hybrid creature made from human and animal DNA that exhibits remarkable intelligence and physical
attributes, as well as astonishing accelerated aging. Different changes take place during the process of
Dren's development. First, when Clive drowns Dren, her gills activated because she contained genetic
material from fish. In addition, when Dren escapes to the roof of the barn, she reveals that she's grown
wings. Also, when Dren reaches adulthood, her sex drive activated. Her final stage of growth resulted in
her changing from female to male when Dren is reborn from death. When Dren switches from being
female to male its breasts disappear, its face becomes harsher, its skin becomes darker, spines emerge
from its lower back, and it its dorsal fins become larger and more monstrous-looking. It does not have
feelings and emotions anymore because it killed Clive and raped Elsa. This phenomenon happened
because Dren just like Ginger undergoes hormonal imbalance/change, for various genes were combined
to form one species. I further conclude that because of gene splicing, we cannot detect the
characteristic of certain being because it changes abruptly. Genes are blueprints of our bodies. It carries
information and characteristics from the parent to its offspring. Offspring depends on the combination
of genes passed by their parents that's why if the the genes were originated from fish, bird, kangaroo,
human, there's a possibility that the species will also yield the same or combined characteristic of those
organism. Dren constitutes different set of genomes and genetic material, thus also affects her
appearance and personality traits. The friendly Dren turns out an ungodly, chimeric hybrid that tries to
kill Elsa, steals her man, turns male, kills Clive, his brother and his boss, and last but not least, rapes her
and leaves her pregnant. And even after all that, Elsa's still at it. For my own view, we cannot interrogate
Elsa's decision at the end of the movie. A mother's love will always be immeasurable. Albeit that she
undergoes various burden and challenges due to this mutant she still keep it alive in her womb. No
matter what happened her affection towards it will always win. It is her own blood and flesh; she might
think that putting it into death also signifies killing her own self. Also, Elsa is driven to continue what
she'd started, to keep moving until she come up with human-animal hybrid that is beneficial and
enhance the medical science.

This movie is fictional yet it could happen in the real world. In today's society, we cannot
distinguish what's possible and what is not because science can invent anything with the aid of
technologies. Curiosity is good yet we do not know if where will curiosity drives us. We should just be
satisfied with God's gift. I also learned that our inner desire can be beneficial as well as can be alarming.
We should learn to think twice and know its aftermath before deciding. Furthermore, we should not
enter the door that we are not yet fully aware of what it contains, it might direct us to risk. Lastly,
characteristic of some individuals varies and fluctuating, just like Elsa and Clive, at first Elsa wants Dren
but later on she didn't want it anymore. Dren, even though she was cared by Elsa, she still betrayed her,
this phenomenon denotes that genuine human being is entirely different from animals. We are the
highest form and we cannot compare nor combine our genes with them. All in all, this movie is

Fhenzie Dhana C. Retoriano

Grade 12-Prudence