Literature, Film & Genetics

About Us | Contact | Log InHome

Literature & Film Search:

 

Browse by Topic

Adaptation

"Evolution" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Short story about future effects of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Crystal Age, A (1888)  Star Rating
A botanist on an expedition finds himself wandering around a strange land with hyperintelligent animals and apparently ageless humans.

Darwin's Radio (1999)  Star Rating
An ancient retrovirus long dormant in human genes activates, causing a rash of miscarriages that presage the births of a new species of humans, one which evokes terror and confusion from an unprepared society.

Dawn: Book One of the Xenogenesis Series (1987)  Star Rating
An alien race rescues the survivors of nuclear war, reawakening them when Earth is once more habitable and offering them the chance to improve the human species by combining alien DNA with existing human genes.

Oryx and Crake (2003)  Star Rating
After Jimmy’s friend Crake unleashes a manufactured supervirus, Jimmy must protect the sole survivors from dangerous transgenic creatures and bioengineered diseases.

The Lost World (1995)  Star Rating
An alternate site to Jurassic Park exists, one still populated by dinosaurs who appear to have recreate the ecological balance of prehistoric periods.

The Time Machine (1895)  Star Rating
When a Victorian scientist travels into the future in his time machine, he discovers that the human race has split into two species: the beautiful, peaceful but weak Eloi and the dangerous, animalistic Morlocks.

Biological determinism

Boys From Brazil, The (1976)  Star Rating
Dr. Mengele creates a horde of Hitler clones in hopes of recreating the Third Reich.

Cloud Atlas (2004)  Star Rating
A series of interlocking tales that span generations examine social and biological developments through the complex interaction of genetic transformations and collective philosophies.

Family Tree, The (2005)  Star Rating
When faced with personal tragedy, Rebecca Monroe must consider whether she carries a genetic trait that explains the behavior of several generations of Monroe women.

Gattaca (1997)  Star Rating
By adopting the ideal genetic identity of a paralyzed man, Vincent finds the means of stepping beyond his genetic limitations and realizing his dream of space travel.

Philosophical Investigation, A (1992)  Star Rating
This provocative detective fiction raises troubling issues about gender and racial stereotypes in a society where genetic profiling has become commonplace.

Saturday (2005)  Star Rating
Henry Perowne encounters a man whose dangerous disease, rooted in a genetic abnormality, threatens both him and his family.

Secret, The (1992)  Star Rating
When Iris discovers that she is her mother’s clone, she leaves home to try and forge an individual identity.

Soul (2006)  Star Rating
Learner’s novel follows the lives of two related women: one a Victorian wife who murders her husband, the other a twenty-first century geneticist searching for the mutant gene that allows people to kill without remorse.

The Boys From Brazil (1978)  Star Rating
Dr. Mengele creates ninety-four Hitler clones through mononuclear reproduction, and Nazi hunter Ezra Liebermann must thwart Mengele’s plot before they mature.

Chaos theory

Darwin's Children (2003)  Star Rating
As fear and prejudice shape social reactions to a newly evolved generation of children, Stella rejects her parents for her evolved brethren.

Darwin's Radio (1999)  Star Rating
An ancient retrovirus long dormant in human genes activates, causing a rash of miscarriages that presage the births of a new species of humans, one which evokes terror and confusion from an unprepared society.

Gold Bug Variations, The (1991)  Star Rating
After the death of a once promising geneticist Stuart Ressler, his friend Jan studies genetics to better understand his life, and discovers that Ressler’s interest in Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” helped him to comprehend intricate genetic structures.

Jurassic Park (1990)  Star Rating
Dinosaur DNA is harvested to create an amusement park of clones.

The Lost World (1995)  Star Rating
An alternate site to Jurassic Park exists, one still populated by dinosaurs who appear to have recreate the ecological balance of prehistoric periods.

Chimera

Chromosome 6 (1997)  Star Rating
Thriller about transgenic animals created to provide organs for rich clients.

Island of Dr. Moreau, The (1896)  Star Rating
Victorian science fiction about human-animal hybrids

Island of Dr. Moreau, The (1996)  Star Rating
A mad geneticist and gun-wielding human-animal hybrids make Dr. Moreau's island a truly horrifying place.

Island of Lost Souls (1933)  Star Rating
Dr. Moreau presides over an island of human-animal hybrids that he has created.

Jurassic Park (1990)  Star Rating
Dinosaur DNA is harvested to create an amusement park of clones.

Next (2006)  Star Rating
Crichton depicts a world identical to our own—except for the transgenic animals, gene theft, rampant gene patenting, genetic profiling in divorce/custody hearings, genetic mutation as art, and more.

Cloning

"Little C" in Clones and Clones (1998)  Star Rating
This elegant story assesses the complex emotional ramifications that result from cloning a child to replace a deceased spouse.

"Sex Education" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Young girl discovers she has been cloned when one of the clones goes "awry."

Able Edwards (2004)  Star Rating
The story of a clone created to revitalize the original human’s failing corporation and his struggles to live up to the legend while also trying to have a life of his own.

Aeon Flux (2005)  Star Rating
Aeon Flux is sent to kill Trevor Goodchild, founder of Bregna, and during the failed assassination attempt learns that she is living in a community of clones.

Beaker’s Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
These thirteen short stories question the effects of genetic engineering, and whether technology should be used simply because it is available.

Boys From Brazil, The (1976)  Star Rating
Dr. Mengele creates a horde of Hitler clones in hopes of recreating the Third Reich.

Brave New World (1932)  Star Rating
Classic dystopia about a society that genetically engineers people to fit their social positions.

Cast of Shadows (2005)  Star Rating
When his daughter is brutally murdered, Dr. Davis Moore becomes obsessed with the prospect of one day learning the killer’s identity, using a sample of her killer’s DNA to create a clone.

Cloning of Joanna May, The (1990)  Star Rating
After she discovers that her husband had her cloned thirty years before, Joanna becomes interested in finding her clones and living vicariously through their very different lives.

Cloud Atlas (2004)  Star Rating
A series of interlocking tales that span generations examine social and biological developments through the complex interaction of genetic transformations and collective philosophies.

Glory Season (1993)  Star Rating
An outcast from her society because she is a genetic variant (“var”), Maia tries to find a place in a matriarchal, clone-prevalent world that sees her as superfluous.

Godsend (2004)  Star Rating
When a couple agrees to participate in an experiment that will provide them with a clone of their dead son, they must face the consequences.

He, She, It (1991)  Star Rating
Shira falls in love with a cyborg named Yod who has been created to protect her hometown’s Net base.

Heredity (2003)  Star Rating
Elizabeth Mann decides to give birth to 18th-century criminal Jonathan Wild’s clone.

Jurassic Park (1990)  Star Rating
Dinosaur DNA is harvested to create an amusement park of clones.

Multiplicity (1996)  Star Rating
Doug Kinney (Michael Keaton) attempts to simplify his life by cloning himself, only to find that duplicate selves create more trouble than they prevent.

Never Let Me Go (2005)  Star Rating
Children cloned and raised as organ donors prepare to give their lives in fulfillment of their socially-designated purpose.

Secret, The (1992)  Star Rating
When Iris discovers that she is her mother’s clone, she leaves home to try and forge an individual identity.

The Boys From Brazil (1978)  Star Rating
Dr. Mengele creates ninety-four Hitler clones through mononuclear reproduction, and Nazi hunter Ezra Liebermann must thwart Mengele’s plot before they mature.

The Experiment (1999)  Star Rating
Skyler discovers that he is a clone meant to provide “spare parts” for a rogue scientist’s child.

The Island (2005)  Star Rating
Two clones in an isolated colony rebel against their fate as “spare parts” for wealthy clients.

The Sixth Day (2000)  Star Rating
An accidental cloning leads to an action-packed conspiracy and inquiry into the dangers of genetic technologies

Time Enough For Love (1973)  Star Rating
Lazarus Long, oldest living member of the Howard Families, has become tired of his genetically-acquired and artificially-enhanced longevity, and seeks new adventures to justify his continued existence.

Comedy

Multiplicity (1996)  Star Rating
Doug Kinney (Michael Keaton) attempts to simplify his life by cloning himself, only to find that duplicate selves create more trouble than they prevent.

Cyborgs

"Margin of Error" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Machines implanted to maintain youth have fatal consequences

Able Edwards (2004)  Star Rating
The story of a clone created to revitalize the original human’s failing corporation and his struggles to live up to the legend while also trying to have a life of his own.

Blade Runner (1982; 1992)  Star Rating
This science fiction film noir features genetically engineered replicants who return to Earth to find their creators.

He, She, It (1991)  Star Rating
Shira falls in love with a cyborg named Yod who has been created to protect her hometown’s Net base.

Schismatrix Plus (1996)  Star Rating
Abelard Lindsay uses training to navigate Schismatrix, a universe composed of cyborgs Mechanists, bioengineered Shapers and alien Investors.

Spider-Man 2 (2004)  Star Rating
In this sequel, Peter Parker/Spiderman must decide if he will retain or abandon his powers and role as superhero while fighting a new nemesis, Doc Ock, a scientist whose artificially intelligent arms have taken over his mind and body.

The Coming Race (1871)  Star Rating
An evolved, superhuman community lives beneath the Earth's surface

Darwin

"Soroche" in Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
An anecdote about Darwin's travels prompts a widow to alter her lifestyle.

"Morpho Eugenia" in Angels and Insects (1992)  Star Rating
Debates about Darwin and religion animate this novella set in 1860 England.

Cloud Atlas (2004)  Star Rating
A series of interlocking tales that span generations examine social and biological developments through the complex interaction of genetic transformations and collective philosophies.

Mr. Darwin's Shooter (1998)  Star Rating
Syms Covington recounts his experiences as Charles Darwin’s loyal assistant during the Beagle voyage and the composition of The Origin of Species.

Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
A series of short fiction traces connections between the lives of early evolutionary theorists and their contemporary counterparts.

Disability

Mendel's Dwarf (1998)  Star Rating
Dr. Benedict Lambert isolates the gene for achondroplasia, but now must decide whether to use his newfound knowledge to genetically “perfect” his offspring.

Saturday (2005)  Star Rating
Henry Perowne encounters a man whose dangerous disease, rooted in a genetic abnormality, threatens both him and his family.

Dystopia

"Evolution" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Short story about future effects of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Blade Runner (1982; 1992)  Star Rating
This science fiction film noir features genetically engineered replicants who return to Earth to find their creators.

Brave New World (1932)  Star Rating
Classic dystopia about a society that genetically engineers people to fit their social positions.

Children of Men (2006)  Star Rating
In a future plagued by an infertility epidemic, one man attempts to save the first pregnant woman in eighteen years in an effort to help prevent the extinction of mankind.

Gattaca (1997)  Star Rating
By adopting the ideal genetic identity of a paralyzed man, Vincent finds the means of stepping beyond his genetic limitations and realizing his dream of space travel.

Oryx and Crake (2003)  Star Rating
After Jimmy’s friend Crake unleashes a manufactured supervirus, Jimmy must protect the sole survivors from dangerous transgenic creatures and bioengineered diseases.

The Island (2005)  Star Rating
Two clones in an isolated colony rebel against their fate as “spare parts” for wealthy clients.

Epidemics

"Evolution" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Short story about future effects of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Children of Men (2006)  Star Rating
In a future plagued by an infertility epidemic, one man attempts to save the first pregnant woman in eighteen years in an effort to help prevent the extinction of mankind.

Darwin's Children (2003)  Star Rating
As fear and prejudice shape social reactions to a newly evolved generation of children, Stella rejects her parents for her evolved brethren.

Darwin's Radio (1999)  Star Rating
An ancient retrovirus long dormant in human genes activates, causing a rash of miscarriages that presage the births of a new species of humans, one which evokes terror and confusion from an unprepared society.

I Am Legend (2007)  Star Rating
Immune to a viral epidemic that has killed most of humanity and turned the rest into animalistic mutants, Dr. Robert Neville is the last man in New York City and must fight to survive and find a cure.

Eugenics

Brave New World (1932)  Star Rating
Classic dystopia about a society that genetically engineers people to fit their social positions.

Mendel's Dwarf (1998)  Star Rating
Dr. Benedict Lambert isolates the gene for achondroplasia, but now must decide whether to use his newfound knowledge to genetically “perfect” his offspring.

Methuselah's Children (1958)  Star Rating
The Howard's families, gifted with longevity through generations of eugenic experimentation, flee the galaxy to avoid persecution and death.

Philosophical Investigation, A (1992)  Star Rating
This provocative detective fiction raises troubling issues about gender and racial stereotypes in a society where genetic profiling has become commonplace.

Time Enough For Love (1973)  Star Rating
Lazarus Long, oldest living member of the Howard Families, has become tired of his genetically-acquired and artificially-enhanced longevity, and seeks new adventures to justify his continued existence.

X2: X-Men United (2003)  Star Rating
After the President is attacked by a mutant, elimination of the “mutant problem” becomes paramount for a rogue government agent who targets Charles Xavier’s school.

Evolution

"Evolution" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Short story about future effects of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Beggars and Choosers (1994)  Star Rating
Beggars and Choosers, an “independent sequel” to Kress’s Beggars in Spain , traces the interlocking stories of three main characters—a Donkey, a Liver, and a Liver-Sleepless hybrid working with the SuperSleepless—in the year 2114, thirteen years after the action of the first book.

Crystal Age, A (1888)  Star Rating
A botanist on an expedition finds himself wandering around a strange land with hyperintelligent animals and apparently ageless humans.

Darwin's Children (2003)  Star Rating
As fear and prejudice shape social reactions to a newly evolved generation of children, Stella rejects her parents for her evolved brethren.

Darwin's Radio (1999)  Star Rating
An ancient retrovirus long dormant in human genes activates, causing a rash of miscarriages that presage the births of a new species of humans, one which evokes terror and confusion from an unprepared society.

Dawn: Book One of the Xenogenesis Series (1987)  Star Rating
An alien race rescues the survivors of nuclear war, reawakening them when Earth is once more habitable and offering them the chance to improve the human species by combining alien DNA with existing human genes.

I Am Legend (2007)  Star Rating
Immune to a viral epidemic that has killed most of humanity and turned the rest into animalistic mutants, Dr. Robert Neville is the last man in New York City and must fight to survive and find a cure.

Imago: Book Three of the Xenogenesis Series (1989)  Star Rating
Jodahs bridges the gap between alien Oankalis and non-modified humans.

Neanderthal (1996)  Star Rating
Archaeologists stumble upon a community of prehistoric Neanderthals living in remote European caves.

Next (2006)  Star Rating
Crichton depicts a world identical to our own—except for the transgenic animals, gene theft, rampant gene patenting, genetic profiling in divorce/custody hearings, genetic mutation as art, and more.

The Coming Race (1871)  Star Rating
An evolved, superhuman community lives beneath the Earth's surface

The Lost World (1995)  Star Rating
An alternate site to Jurassic Park exists, one still populated by dinosaurs who appear to have recreate the ecological balance of prehistoric periods.

The Time Machine (1895)  Star Rating
When a Victorian scientist travels into the future in his time machine, he discovers that the human race has split into two species: the beautiful, peaceful but weak Eloi and the dangerous, animalistic Morlocks.

X-Men (2000)  Star Rating
Charles Xavier’s band of mutants stand between humanity and evil mastermind Magneto, who plans to unleash a powerful force that will produce genetic mutations in all non-mutants.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)  Star Rating
When scientists discover a “cure” for the mutant gene, Xavier’s X-Men and Magneto’s Brotherhood take opposing views on how best to preserve the mutant lifestyle.

Extinction

"Evolution" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Short story about future effects of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Adulthood Rites: Book Two of the Xenogenesis Series (1988)  Star Rating
Kidnapped from his Oankali family, Akin bonds with factions resisting the alien intervention in human reproduction and promises to aid them in their quest for autonomy.

Children of Men (2006)  Star Rating
In a future plagued by an infertility epidemic, one man attempts to save the first pregnant woman in eighteen years in an effort to help prevent the extinction of mankind.

Darwin's Radio (1999)  Star Rating
An ancient retrovirus long dormant in human genes activates, causing a rash of miscarriages that presage the births of a new species of humans, one which evokes terror and confusion from an unprepared society.

Dawn: Book One of the Xenogenesis Series (1987)  Star Rating
An alien race rescues the survivors of nuclear war, reawakening them when Earth is once more habitable and offering them the chance to improve the human species by combining alien DNA with existing human genes.

I Am Legend (2007)  Star Rating
Immune to a viral epidemic that has killed most of humanity and turned the rest into animalistic mutants, Dr. Robert Neville is the last man in New York City and must fight to survive and find a cure.

Imago: Book Three of the Xenogenesis Series (1989)  Star Rating
Jodahs bridges the gap between alien Oankalis and non-modified humans.

Jurassic Park (1990)  Star Rating
Dinosaur DNA is harvested to create an amusement park of clones.

Neanderthal (1996)  Star Rating
Archaeologists stumble upon a community of prehistoric Neanderthals living in remote European caves.

Next (2006)  Star Rating
Crichton depicts a world identical to our own—except for the transgenic animals, gene theft, rampant gene patenting, genetic profiling in divorce/custody hearings, genetic mutation as art, and more.

Oryx and Crake (2003)  Star Rating
After Jimmy’s friend Crake unleashes a manufactured supervirus, Jimmy must protect the sole survivors from dangerous transgenic creatures and bioengineered diseases.

The Lost World (1995)  Star Rating
An alternate site to Jurassic Park exists, one still populated by dinosaurs who appear to have recreate the ecological balance of prehistoric periods.

Forensic DNA

Philosophical Investigation, A (1992)  Star Rating
This provocative detective fiction raises troubling issues about gender and racial stereotypes in a society where genetic profiling has become commonplace.

Gender

"Soroche" in Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
An anecdote about Darwin's travels prompts a widow to alter her lifestyle.

"Margin of Error" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Machines implanted to maintain youth have fatal consequences

Blade Runner (1982; 1992)  Star Rating
This science fiction film noir features genetically engineered replicants who return to Earth to find their creators.

Imago: Book Three of the Xenogenesis Series (1989)  Star Rating
Jodahs bridges the gap between alien Oankalis and non-modified humans.

Mendel's Dwarf (1998)  Star Rating
Dr. Benedict Lambert isolates the gene for achondroplasia, but now must decide whether to use his newfound knowledge to genetically “perfect” his offspring.

Middlesex (2002)  Star Rating
While explaining his female-to-male transition, Cal Stephanides explains how his hermaphroditism arose from mutations in the family’s gene pool, and how his apparent gender role conflicts with his biologically-determined one.

Oryx and Crake (2003)  Star Rating
After Jimmy’s friend Crake unleashes a manufactured supervirus, Jimmy must protect the sole survivors from dangerous transgenic creatures and bioengineered diseases.

Philosophical Investigation, A (1992)  Star Rating
This provocative detective fiction raises troubling issues about gender and racial stereotypes in a society where genetic profiling has become commonplace.

Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
A series of short fiction traces connections between the lives of early evolutionary theorists and their contemporary counterparts.

Soul (2006)  Star Rating
Learner’s novel follows the lives of two related women: one a Victorian wife who murders her husband, the other a twenty-first century geneticist searching for the mutant gene that allows people to kill without remorse.

Genetic code

Gold Bug Variations, The (1991)  Star Rating
After the death of a once promising geneticist Stuart Ressler, his friend Jan studies genetics to better understand his life, and discovers that Ressler’s interest in Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” helped him to comprehend intricate genetic structures.

Hollow Man (2000)  Star Rating
A team of scientists discover how to alter the genetic code of animals to cause them to become invisible, but when the lead researcher tests the experiment on himself, things go dangerously awry.

Next (2006)  Star Rating
Crichton depicts a world identical to our own—except for the transgenic animals, gene theft, rampant gene patenting, genetic profiling in divorce/custody hearings, genetic mutation as art, and more.

Saturday (2005)  Star Rating
Henry Perowne encounters a man whose dangerous disease, rooted in a genetic abnormality, threatens both him and his family.

Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
A series of short fiction traces connections between the lives of early evolutionary theorists and their contemporary counterparts.

Soul (2006)  Star Rating
Learner’s novel follows the lives of two related women: one a Victorian wife who murders her husband, the other a twenty-first century geneticist searching for the mutant gene that allows people to kill without remorse.

Spider-Man (2002)  Star Rating
When a high school boy is bitten by a genetically engineered spider and gains its abilities, he becomes Spiderman, a superhero who saves New York City from various villains.

Spider-Man 2 (2004)  Star Rating
In this sequel, Peter Parker/Spiderman must decide if he will retain or abandon his powers and role as superhero while fighting a new nemesis, Doc Ock, a scientist whose artificially intelligent arms have taken over his mind and body.

Wetware (2002)  Star Rating
In the year 2026, Hal Briggs engineers human and animal life by encoding biology into digital form. But when two special prototypes escape, the trouble begins.

Genetic discrimination

Beggars and Choosers (1994)  Star Rating
Beggars and Choosers, an “independent sequel” to Kress’s Beggars in Spain , traces the interlocking stories of three main characters—a Donkey, a Liver, and a Liver-Sleepless hybrid working with the SuperSleepless—in the year 2114, thirteen years after the action of the first book.

Beggars in Spain (1993)  Star Rating
The first novel in a science fiction trilogy explores both the potential positives and negatives of human genetic modification.

Darwin's Children (2003)  Star Rating
As fear and prejudice shape social reactions to a newly evolved generation of children, Stella rejects her parents for her evolved brethren.

Darwin's Radio (1999)  Star Rating
An ancient retrovirus long dormant in human genes activates, causing a rash of miscarriages that presage the births of a new species of humans, one which evokes terror and confusion from an unprepared society.

Gattaca (1997)  Star Rating
By adopting the ideal genetic identity of a paralyzed man, Vincent finds the means of stepping beyond his genetic limitations and realizing his dream of space travel.

Next (2006)  Star Rating
Crichton depicts a world identical to our own—except for the transgenic animals, gene theft, rampant gene patenting, genetic profiling in divorce/custody hearings, genetic mutation as art, and more.

Philosophical Investigation, A (1992)  Star Rating
This provocative detective fiction raises troubling issues about gender and racial stereotypes in a society where genetic profiling has become commonplace.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)  Star Rating
When scientists discover a “cure” for the mutant gene, Xavier’s X-Men and Magneto’s Brotherhood take opposing views on how best to preserve the mutant lifestyle.

X2: X-Men United (2003)  Star Rating
After the President is attacked by a mutant, elimination of the “mutant problem” becomes paramount for a rogue government agent who targets Charles Xavier’s school.

Genetic engineering

"Dancing on Air" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Bioenhancements expose the limitations of ballet dancers, and of ballet as an aesthetic form.

"Margin of Error" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Machines implanted to maintain youth have fatal consequences

Adulthood Rites: Book Two of the Xenogenesis Series (1988)  Star Rating
Kidnapped from his Oankali family, Akin bonds with factions resisting the alien intervention in human reproduction and promises to aid them in their quest for autonomy.

Aeon Flux (2005)  Star Rating
Aeon Flux is sent to kill Trevor Goodchild, founder of Bregna, and during the failed assassination attempt learns that she is living in a community of clones.

All Over Creation (2003)  Star Rating
A radical group protesting genetically engineered foods and a fractured family dedicated to organic seed production converge on an Idaho potato farm.

Beaker’s Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
These thirteen short stories question the effects of genetic engineering, and whether technology should be used simply because it is available.

Beggars and Choosers (1994)  Star Rating
Beggars and Choosers, an “independent sequel” to Kress’s Beggars in Spain , traces the interlocking stories of three main characters—a Donkey, a Liver, and a Liver-Sleepless hybrid working with the SuperSleepless—in the year 2114, thirteen years after the action of the first book.

Beggars in Spain (1993)  Star Rating
The first novel in a science fiction trilogy explores both the potential positives and negatives of human genetic modification.

Blade Runner (1982; 1992)  Star Rating
This science fiction film noir features genetically engineered replicants who return to Earth to find their creators.

Boys From Brazil, The (1976)  Star Rating
Dr. Mengele creates a horde of Hitler clones in hopes of recreating the Third Reich.

Brave New World (1932)  Star Rating
Classic dystopia about a society that genetically engineers people to fit their social positions.

Cast of Shadows (2005)  Star Rating
When his daughter is brutally murdered, Dr. Davis Moore becomes obsessed with the prospect of one day learning the killer’s identity, using a sample of her killer’s DNA to create a clone.

Dawn: Book One of the Xenogenesis Series (1987)  Star Rating
An alien race rescues the survivors of nuclear war, reawakening them when Earth is once more habitable and offering them the chance to improve the human species by combining alien DNA with existing human genes.

From the Depths (Star Trek) - (1993)  Star Rating
Star Trek novel that is distinctive for its positive treatment of genetic engineering.

Gattaca (1997)  Star Rating
By adopting the ideal genetic identity of a paralyzed man, Vincent finds the means of stepping beyond his genetic limitations and realizing his dream of space travel.

Glory Season (1993)  Star Rating
An outcast from her society because she is a genetic variant (“var”), Maia tries to find a place in a matriarchal, clone-prevalent world that sees her as superfluous.

Godsend (2004)  Star Rating
When a couple agrees to participate in an experiment that will provide them with a clone of their dead son, they must face the consequences.

He, She, It (1991)  Star Rating
Shira falls in love with a cyborg named Yod who has been created to protect her hometown’s Net base.

Heredity (2003)  Star Rating
Elizabeth Mann decides to give birth to 18th-century criminal Jonathan Wild’s clone.

Imago: Book Three of the Xenogenesis Series (1989)  Star Rating
Jodahs bridges the gap between alien Oankalis and non-modified humans.

Jurassic Park (1990)  Star Rating
Dinosaur DNA is harvested to create an amusement park of clones.

Next (2006)  Star Rating
Crichton depicts a world identical to our own—except for the transgenic animals, gene theft, rampant gene patenting, genetic profiling in divorce/custody hearings, genetic mutation as art, and more.

Oryx and Crake (2003)  Star Rating
After Jimmy’s friend Crake unleashes a manufactured supervirus, Jimmy must protect the sole survivors from dangerous transgenic creatures and bioengineered diseases.

Schismatrix Plus (1996)  Star Rating
Abelard Lindsay uses training to navigate Schismatrix, a universe composed of cyborgs Mechanists, bioengineered Shapers and alien Investors.

Seedling Stars, The (1958)  Star Rating
When Earth’s resources become strained from overpopulation, scientists bioengineer a humanoid species capable of survival on other planets.

Spider-Man (2002)  Star Rating
When a high school boy is bitten by a genetically engineered spider and gains its abilities, he becomes Spiderman, a superhero who saves New York City from various villains.

The Boys From Brazil (1978)  Star Rating
Dr. Mengele creates ninety-four Hitler clones through mononuclear reproduction, and Nazi hunter Ezra Liebermann must thwart Mengele’s plot before they mature.

The Giver (1993)  Star Rating
When Jonas turns twelve, he is selected to receive the memories of his highly regulated community -- and the process reveals disturbing truths about his origins.

The Sixth Day (2000)  Star Rating
An accidental cloning leads to an action-packed conspiracy and inquiry into the dangers of genetic technologies

Time Enough For Love (1973)  Star Rating
Lazarus Long, oldest living member of the Howard Families, has become tired of his genetically-acquired and artificially-enhanced longevity, and seeks new adventures to justify his continued existence.

Wetware (2002)  Star Rating
In the year 2026, Hal Briggs engineers human and animal life by encoding biology into digital form. But when two special prototypes escape, the trouble begins.

White Teeth (2000)  Star Rating
Oppositional forces from religious and political groups converge around the genetically modified FutureMouse, revealing in the process the inherited and environmental motivations that inform these positions.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)  Star Rating
When scientists discover a “cure” for the mutant gene, Xavier’s X-Men and Magneto’s Brotherhood take opposing views on how best to preserve the mutant lifestyle.

Genetic memory

Able Edwards (2004)  Star Rating
The story of a clone created to revitalize the original human’s failing corporation and his struggles to live up to the legend while also trying to have a life of his own.

Godsend (2004)  Star Rating
When a couple agrees to participate in an experiment that will provide them with a clone of their dead son, they must face the consequences.

The Giver (1993)  Star Rating
When Jonas turns twelve, he is selected to receive the memories of his highly regulated community -- and the process reveals disturbing truths about his origins.

The Island (2005)  Star Rating
Two clones in an isolated colony rebel against their fate as “spare parts” for wealthy clients.

The Sixth Day (2000)  Star Rating
An accidental cloning leads to an action-packed conspiracy and inquiry into the dangers of genetic technologies

Genetic research

Gold Bug Variations, The (1991)  Star Rating
After the death of a once promising geneticist Stuart Ressler, his friend Jan studies genetics to better understand his life, and discovers that Ressler’s interest in Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” helped him to comprehend intricate genetic structures.

Hollow Man (2000)  Star Rating
A team of scientists discover how to alter the genetic code of animals to cause them to become invisible, but when the lead researcher tests the experiment on himself, things go dangerously awry.

I Am Legend (2007)  Star Rating
Immune to a viral epidemic that has killed most of humanity and turned the rest into animalistic mutants, Dr. Robert Neville is the last man in New York City and must fight to survive and find a cure.

Mendel's Dwarf (1998)  Star Rating
Dr. Benedict Lambert isolates the gene for achondroplasia, but now must decide whether to use his newfound knowledge to genetically “perfect” his offspring.

Next (2006)  Star Rating
Crichton depicts a world identical to our own—except for the transgenic animals, gene theft, rampant gene patenting, genetic profiling in divorce/custody hearings, genetic mutation as art, and more.

Soul (2006)  Star Rating
Learner’s novel follows the lives of two related women: one a Victorian wife who murders her husband, the other a twenty-first century geneticist searching for the mutant gene that allows people to kill without remorse.

Spider-Man (2002)  Star Rating
When a high school boy is bitten by a genetically engineered spider and gains its abilities, he becomes Spiderman, a superhero who saves New York City from various villains.

Spider-Man 2 (2004)  Star Rating
In this sequel, Peter Parker/Spiderman must decide if he will retain or abandon his powers and role as superhero while fighting a new nemesis, Doc Ock, a scientist whose artificially intelligent arms have taken over his mind and body.

Genetic screening

"Sex Education" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Young girl discovers she has been cloned when one of the clones goes "awry."

Mendel's Dwarf (1998)  Star Rating
Dr. Benedict Lambert isolates the gene for achondroplasia, but now must decide whether to use his newfound knowledge to genetically “perfect” his offspring.

Next (2006)  Star Rating
Crichton depicts a world identical to our own—except for the transgenic animals, gene theft, rampant gene patenting, genetic profiling in divorce/custody hearings, genetic mutation as art, and more.

Philosophical Investigation, A (1992)  Star Rating
This provocative detective fiction raises troubling issues about gender and racial stereotypes in a society where genetic profiling has become commonplace.

Soul (2006)  Star Rating
Learner’s novel follows the lives of two related women: one a Victorian wife who murders her husband, the other a twenty-first century geneticist searching for the mutant gene that allows people to kill without remorse.

Genetically modified food

All Over Creation (2003)  Star Rating
A radical group protesting genetically engineered foods and a fractured family dedicated to organic seed production converge on an Idaho potato farm.

Heredity

"Behavior of Hawkweeds, The" in Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
Short story that blends an account of Mendel's experiments into the history of a contemporary couple's marriage.

Crystal Age, A (1888)  Star Rating
A botanist on an expedition finds himself wandering around a strange land with hyperintelligent animals and apparently ageless humans.

Heredity (2003)  Star Rating
Elizabeth Mann decides to give birth to 18th-century criminal Jonathan Wild’s clone.

Next (2006)  Star Rating
Crichton depicts a world identical to our own—except for the transgenic animals, gene theft, rampant gene patenting, genetic profiling in divorce/custody hearings, genetic mutation as art, and more.

Saturday (2005)  Star Rating
Henry Perowne encounters a man whose dangerous disease, rooted in a genetic abnormality, threatens both him and his family.

Soul (2006)  Star Rating
Learner’s novel follows the lives of two related women: one a Victorian wife who murders her husband, the other a twenty-first century geneticist searching for the mutant gene that allows people to kill without remorse.

Hermaphroditism

Middlesex (2002)  Star Rating
While explaining his female-to-male transition, Cal Stephanides explains how his hermaphroditism arose from mutations in the family’s gene pool, and how his apparent gender role conflicts with his biologically-determined one.

Historical fiction

"Birds With No Feet" in Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
Explorer who sees parallels between his life and Alfred Wallace's imagines a rivalry between them as each hopes to uncover the secret of fabled feetless birds.

"Morpho Eugenia" in Angels and Insects (1992)  Star Rating
Debates about Darwin and religion animate this novella set in 1860 England.

Mr. Darwin's Shooter (1998)  Star Rating
Syms Covington recounts his experiences as Charles Darwin’s loyal assistant during the Beagle voyage and the composition of The Origin of Species.

Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
A series of short fiction traces connections between the lives of early evolutionary theorists and their contemporary counterparts.

Soul (2006)  Star Rating
Learner’s novel follows the lives of two related women: one a Victorian wife who murders her husband, the other a twenty-first century geneticist searching for the mutant gene that allows people to kill without remorse.

Horror

Jurassic Park (1990)  Star Rating
Dinosaur DNA is harvested to create an amusement park of clones.

The Lost World (1995)  Star Rating
An alternate site to Jurassic Park exists, one still populated by dinosaurs who appear to have recreate the ecological balance of prehistoric periods.

Inherited traits

Family Tree, The (2005)  Star Rating
When faced with personal tragedy, Rebecca Monroe must consider whether she carries a genetic trait that explains the behavior of several generations of Monroe women.

Mendel's Dwarf (1998)  Star Rating
Dr. Benedict Lambert isolates the gene for achondroplasia, but now must decide whether to use his newfound knowledge to genetically “perfect” his offspring.

Methuselah's Children (1958)  Star Rating
The Howard's families, gifted with longevity through generations of eugenic experimentation, flee the galaxy to avoid persecution and death.

Soul (2006)  Star Rating
Learner’s novel follows the lives of two related women: one a Victorian wife who murders her husband, the other a twenty-first century geneticist searching for the mutant gene that allows people to kill without remorse.

White Teeth (2000)  Star Rating
Oppositional forces from religious and political groups converge around the genetically modified FutureMouse, revealing in the process the inherited and environmental motivations that inform these positions.

Legislation

Able Edwards (2004)  Star Rating
The story of a clone created to revitalize the original human’s failing corporation and his struggles to live up to the legend while also trying to have a life of his own.

Beggars and Choosers (1994)  Star Rating
Beggars and Choosers, an “independent sequel” to Kress’s Beggars in Spain , traces the interlocking stories of three main characters—a Donkey, a Liver, and a Liver-Sleepless hybrid working with the SuperSleepless—in the year 2114, thirteen years after the action of the first book.

Darwin's Radio (1999)  Star Rating
An ancient retrovirus long dormant in human genes activates, causing a rash of miscarriages that presage the births of a new species of humans, one which evokes terror and confusion from an unprepared society.

Next (2006)  Star Rating
Crichton depicts a world identical to our own—except for the transgenic animals, gene theft, rampant gene patenting, genetic profiling in divorce/custody hearings, genetic mutation as art, and more.

X-Men (2000)  Star Rating
Charles Xavier’s band of mutants stand between humanity and evil mastermind Magneto, who plans to unleash a powerful force that will produce genetic mutations in all non-mutants.

Linnaeus

Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
A series of short fiction traces connections between the lives of early evolutionary theorists and their contemporary counterparts.

Mendel

"Behavior of Hawkweeds, The" in Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
Short story that blends an account of Mendel's experiments into the history of a contemporary couple's marriage.

Mendel's Dwarf (1998)  Star Rating
Dr. Benedict Lambert isolates the gene for achondroplasia, but now must decide whether to use his newfound knowledge to genetically “perfect” his offspring.

Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
A series of short fiction traces connections between the lives of early evolutionary theorists and their contemporary counterparts.

Mutations

"Dancing on Air" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Bioenhancements expose the limitations of ballet dancers, and of ballet as an aesthetic form.

Adulthood Rites: Book Two of the Xenogenesis Series (1988)  Star Rating
Kidnapped from his Oankali family, Akin bonds with factions resisting the alien intervention in human reproduction and promises to aid them in their quest for autonomy.

Darwin's Radio (1999)  Star Rating
An ancient retrovirus long dormant in human genes activates, causing a rash of miscarriages that presage the births of a new species of humans, one which evokes terror and confusion from an unprepared society.

Dawn: Book One of the Xenogenesis Series (1987)  Star Rating
An alien race rescues the survivors of nuclear war, reawakening them when Earth is once more habitable and offering them the chance to improve the human species by combining alien DNA with existing human genes.

Hollow Man (2000)  Star Rating
A team of scientists discover how to alter the genetic code of animals to cause them to become invisible, but when the lead researcher tests the experiment on himself, things go dangerously awry.

I Am Legend (2007)  Star Rating
Immune to a viral epidemic that has killed most of humanity and turned the rest into animalistic mutants, Dr. Robert Neville is the last man in New York City and must fight to survive and find a cure.

Imago: Book Three of the Xenogenesis Series (1989)  Star Rating
Jodahs bridges the gap between alien Oankalis and non-modified humans.

Jurassic Park (1990)  Star Rating
Dinosaur DNA is harvested to create an amusement park of clones.

Mendel's Dwarf (1998)  Star Rating
Dr. Benedict Lambert isolates the gene for achondroplasia, but now must decide whether to use his newfound knowledge to genetically “perfect” his offspring.

Middlesex (2002)  Star Rating
While explaining his female-to-male transition, Cal Stephanides explains how his hermaphroditism arose from mutations in the family’s gene pool, and how his apparent gender role conflicts with his biologically-determined one.

Next (2006)  Star Rating
Crichton depicts a world identical to our own—except for the transgenic animals, gene theft, rampant gene patenting, genetic profiling in divorce/custody hearings, genetic mutation as art, and more.

Spider-Man (2002)  Star Rating
When a high school boy is bitten by a genetically engineered spider and gains its abilities, he becomes Spiderman, a superhero who saves New York City from various villains.

Spider-Man 2 (2004)  Star Rating
In this sequel, Peter Parker/Spiderman must decide if he will retain or abandon his powers and role as superhero while fighting a new nemesis, Doc Ock, a scientist whose artificially intelligent arms have taken over his mind and body.

X-Men (2000)  Star Rating
Charles Xavier’s band of mutants stand between humanity and evil mastermind Magneto, who plans to unleash a powerful force that will produce genetic mutations in all non-mutants.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)  Star Rating
When scientists discover a “cure” for the mutant gene, Xavier’s X-Men and Magneto’s Brotherhood take opposing views on how best to preserve the mutant lifestyle.

X2: X-Men United (2003)  Star Rating
After the President is attacked by a mutant, elimination of the “mutant problem” becomes paramount for a rogue government agent who targets Charles Xavier’s school.

Nature/nurture

"Little C" in Clones and Clones (1998)  Star Rating
This elegant story assesses the complex emotional ramifications that result from cloning a child to replace a deceased spouse.

Able Edwards (2004)  Star Rating
The story of a clone created to revitalize the original human’s failing corporation and his struggles to live up to the legend while also trying to have a life of his own.

Boys From Brazil, The (1976)  Star Rating
Dr. Mengele creates a horde of Hitler clones in hopes of recreating the Third Reich.

Cast of Shadows (2005)  Star Rating
When his daughter is brutally murdered, Dr. Davis Moore becomes obsessed with the prospect of one day learning the killer’s identity, using a sample of her killer’s DNA to create a clone.

Cloning of Joanna May, The (1990)  Star Rating
After she discovers that her husband had her cloned thirty years before, Joanna becomes interested in finding her clones and living vicariously through their very different lives.

Crystal Age, A (1888)  Star Rating
A botanist on an expedition finds himself wandering around a strange land with hyperintelligent animals and apparently ageless humans.

Family Tree, The (2005)  Star Rating
When faced with personal tragedy, Rebecca Monroe must consider whether she carries a genetic trait that explains the behavior of several generations of Monroe women.

Godsend (2004)  Star Rating
When a couple agrees to participate in an experiment that will provide them with a clone of their dead son, they must face the consequences.

Heredity (2003)  Star Rating
Elizabeth Mann decides to give birth to 18th-century criminal Jonathan Wild’s clone.

Island of Dr. Moreau, The (1896)  Star Rating
Victorian science fiction about human-animal hybrids

Middlesex (2002)  Star Rating
While explaining his female-to-male transition, Cal Stephanides explains how his hermaphroditism arose from mutations in the family’s gene pool, and how his apparent gender role conflicts with his biologically-determined one.

Secret, The (1992)  Star Rating
When Iris discovers that she is her mother’s clone, she leaves home to try and forge an individual identity.

Soul (2006)  Star Rating
Learner’s novel follows the lives of two related women: one a Victorian wife who murders her husband, the other a twenty-first century geneticist searching for the mutant gene that allows people to kill without remorse.

The Boys From Brazil (1978)  Star Rating
Dr. Mengele creates ninety-four Hitler clones through mononuclear reproduction, and Nazi hunter Ezra Liebermann must thwart Mengele’s plot before they mature.

The Experiment (1999)  Star Rating
Skyler discovers that he is a clone meant to provide “spare parts” for a rogue scientist’s child.

White Teeth (2000)  Star Rating
Oppositional forces from religious and political groups converge around the genetically modified FutureMouse, revealing in the process the inherited and environmental motivations that inform these positions.

Organ harvesting

Chromosome 6 (1997)  Star Rating
Thriller about transgenic animals created to provide organs for rich clients.

Never Let Me Go (2005)  Star Rating
Children cloned and raised as organ donors prepare to give their lives in fulfillment of their socially-designated purpose.

Oryx and Crake (2003)  Star Rating
After Jimmy’s friend Crake unleashes a manufactured supervirus, Jimmy must protect the sole survivors from dangerous transgenic creatures and bioengineered diseases.

The Experiment (1999)  Star Rating
Skyler discovers that he is a clone meant to provide “spare parts” for a rogue scientist’s child.

The Island (2005)  Star Rating
Two clones in an isolated colony rebel against their fate as “spare parts” for wealthy clients.

Posthuman

"Dancing on Air" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Bioenhancements expose the limitations of ballet dancers, and of ballet as an aesthetic form.

"Margin of Error" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Machines implanted to maintain youth have fatal consequences

Adulthood Rites: Book Two of the Xenogenesis Series (1988)  Star Rating
Kidnapped from his Oankali family, Akin bonds with factions resisting the alien intervention in human reproduction and promises to aid them in their quest for autonomy.

Blade Runner (1982; 1992)  Star Rating
This science fiction film noir features genetically engineered replicants who return to Earth to find their creators.

Darwin's Children (2003)  Star Rating
As fear and prejudice shape social reactions to a newly evolved generation of children, Stella rejects her parents for her evolved brethren.

Darwin's Radio (1999)  Star Rating
An ancient retrovirus long dormant in human genes activates, causing a rash of miscarriages that presage the births of a new species of humans, one which evokes terror and confusion from an unprepared society.

Dawn: Book One of the Xenogenesis Series (1987)  Star Rating
An alien race rescues the survivors of nuclear war, reawakening them when Earth is once more habitable and offering them the chance to improve the human species by combining alien DNA with existing human genes.

He, She, It (1991)  Star Rating
Shira falls in love with a cyborg named Yod who has been created to protect her hometown’s Net base.

Imago: Book Three of the Xenogenesis Series (1989)  Star Rating
Jodahs bridges the gap between alien Oankalis and non-modified humans.

Oryx and Crake (2003)  Star Rating
After Jimmy’s friend Crake unleashes a manufactured supervirus, Jimmy must protect the sole survivors from dangerous transgenic creatures and bioengineered diseases.

Schismatrix Plus (1996)  Star Rating
Abelard Lindsay uses training to navigate Schismatrix, a universe composed of cyborgs Mechanists, bioengineered Shapers and alien Investors.

Seedling Stars, The (1958)  Star Rating
When Earth’s resources become strained from overpopulation, scientists bioengineer a humanoid species capable of survival on other planets.

The Time Machine (1895)  Star Rating
When a Victorian scientist travels into the future in his time machine, he discovers that the human race has split into two species: the beautiful, peaceful but weak Eloi and the dangerous, animalistic Morlocks.

Race

Adulthood Rites: Book Two of the Xenogenesis Series (1988)  Star Rating
Kidnapped from his Oankali family, Akin bonds with factions resisting the alien intervention in human reproduction and promises to aid them in their quest for autonomy.

He, She, It (1991)  Star Rating
Shira falls in love with a cyborg named Yod who has been created to protect her hometown’s Net base.

Imago: Book Three of the Xenogenesis Series (1989)  Star Rating
Jodahs bridges the gap between alien Oankalis and non-modified humans.

Island of Lost Souls (1933)  Star Rating
Dr. Moreau presides over an island of human-animal hybrids that he has created.

Philosophical Investigation, A (1992)  Star Rating
This provocative detective fiction raises troubling issues about gender and racial stereotypes in a society where genetic profiling has become commonplace.

The Time Machine (1895)  Star Rating
When a Victorian scientist travels into the future in his time machine, he discovers that the human race has split into two species: the beautiful, peaceful but weak Eloi and the dangerous, animalistic Morlocks.

Repopulation

Dawn: Book One of the Xenogenesis Series (1987)  Star Rating
An alien race rescues the survivors of nuclear war, reawakening them when Earth is once more habitable and offering them the chance to improve the human species by combining alien DNA with existing human genes.

I Am Legend (2007)  Star Rating
Immune to a viral epidemic that has killed most of humanity and turned the rest into animalistic mutants, Dr. Robert Neville is the last man in New York City and must fight to survive and find a cure.

Imago: Book Three of the Xenogenesis Series (1989)  Star Rating
Jodahs bridges the gap between alien Oankalis and non-modified humans.

Retrovirus

Darwin's Children (2003)  Star Rating
As fear and prejudice shape social reactions to a newly evolved generation of children, Stella rejects her parents for her evolved brethren.

Darwin's Radio (1999)  Star Rating
An ancient retrovirus long dormant in human genes activates, causing a rash of miscarriages that presage the births of a new species of humans, one which evokes terror and confusion from an unprepared society.

Science fiction

Able Edwards (2004)  Star Rating
The story of a clone created to revitalize the original human’s failing corporation and his struggles to live up to the legend while also trying to have a life of his own.

Adulthood Rites: Book Two of the Xenogenesis Series (1988)  Star Rating
Kidnapped from his Oankali family, Akin bonds with factions resisting the alien intervention in human reproduction and promises to aid them in their quest for autonomy.

Beaker’s Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
These thirteen short stories question the effects of genetic engineering, and whether technology should be used simply because it is available.

Beggars and Choosers (1994)  Star Rating
Beggars and Choosers, an “independent sequel” to Kress’s Beggars in Spain , traces the interlocking stories of three main characters—a Donkey, a Liver, and a Liver-Sleepless hybrid working with the SuperSleepless—in the year 2114, thirteen years after the action of the first book.

Beggars in Spain (1993)  Star Rating
The first novel in a science fiction trilogy explores both the potential positives and negatives of human genetic modification.

Blade Runner (1982; 1992)  Star Rating
This science fiction film noir features genetically engineered replicants who return to Earth to find their creators.

Children of Men (2006)  Star Rating
In a future plagued by an infertility epidemic, one man attempts to save the first pregnant woman in eighteen years in an effort to help prevent the extinction of mankind.

Dawn: Book One of the Xenogenesis Series (1987)  Star Rating
An alien race rescues the survivors of nuclear war, reawakening them when Earth is once more habitable and offering them the chance to improve the human species by combining alien DNA with existing human genes.

From the Depths (Star Trek) - (1993)  Star Rating
Star Trek novel that is distinctive for its positive treatment of genetic engineering.

Glory Season (1993)  Star Rating
An outcast from her society because she is a genetic variant (“var”), Maia tries to find a place in a matriarchal, clone-prevalent world that sees her as superfluous.

I Am Legend (2007)  Star Rating
Immune to a viral epidemic that has killed most of humanity and turned the rest into animalistic mutants, Dr. Robert Neville is the last man in New York City and must fight to survive and find a cure.

Imago: Book Three of the Xenogenesis Series (1989)  Star Rating
Jodahs bridges the gap between alien Oankalis and non-modified humans.

Island of Dr. Moreau, The (1896)  Star Rating
Victorian science fiction about human-animal hybrids

Methuselah's Children (1958)  Star Rating
The Howard's families, gifted with longevity through generations of eugenic experimentation, flee the galaxy to avoid persecution and death.

Next (2006)  Star Rating
Crichton depicts a world identical to our own—except for the transgenic animals, gene theft, rampant gene patenting, genetic profiling in divorce/custody hearings, genetic mutation as art, and more.

Schismatrix Plus (1996)  Star Rating
Abelard Lindsay uses training to navigate Schismatrix, a universe composed of cyborgs Mechanists, bioengineered Shapers and alien Investors.

Seedling Stars, The (1958)  Star Rating
When Earth’s resources become strained from overpopulation, scientists bioengineer a humanoid species capable of survival on other planets.

Spider-Man (2002)  Star Rating
When a high school boy is bitten by a genetically engineered spider and gains its abilities, he becomes Spiderman, a superhero who saves New York City from various villains.

Spider-Man 2 (2004)  Star Rating
In this sequel, Peter Parker/Spiderman must decide if he will retain or abandon his powers and role as superhero while fighting a new nemesis, Doc Ock, a scientist whose artificially intelligent arms have taken over his mind and body.

The Lost World (1995)  Star Rating
An alternate site to Jurassic Park exists, one still populated by dinosaurs who appear to have recreate the ecological balance of prehistoric periods.

The Time Machine (1895)  Star Rating
When a Victorian scientist travels into the future in his time machine, he discovers that the human race has split into two species: the beautiful, peaceful but weak Eloi and the dangerous, animalistic Morlocks.

Wetware (2002)  Star Rating
In the year 2026, Hal Briggs engineers human and animal life by encoding biology into digital form. But when two special prototypes escape, the trouble begins.

X-Men (2000)  Star Rating
Charles Xavier’s band of mutants stand between humanity and evil mastermind Magneto, who plans to unleash a powerful force that will produce genetic mutations in all non-mutants.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)  Star Rating
When scientists discover a “cure” for the mutant gene, Xavier’s X-Men and Magneto’s Brotherhood take opposing views on how best to preserve the mutant lifestyle.

X2: X-Men United (2003)  Star Rating
After the President is attacked by a mutant, elimination of the “mutant problem” becomes paramount for a rogue government agent who targets Charles Xavier’s school.

Senescence

The Experiment (1999)  Star Rating
Skyler discovers that he is a clone meant to provide “spare parts” for a rogue scientist’s child.

Short story

"Soroche" in Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
An anecdote about Darwin's travels prompts a widow to alter her lifestyle.

"Behavior of Hawkweeds, The" in Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
Short story that blends an account of Mendel's experiments into the history of a contemporary couple's marriage.

"Birds With No Feet" in Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
Explorer who sees parallels between his life and Alfred Wallace's imagines a rivalry between them as each hopes to uncover the secret of fabled feetless birds.

"Dancing on Air" in Beaker's Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
Bioenhancements expose the limitations of ballet dancers, and of ballet as an aesthetic form.

"English Pupil, The" in Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
An aging Linnaeus attempts to retain his memories through a classificatory system.

"Little C" in Clones and Clones (1998)  Star Rating
This elegant story assesses the complex emotional ramifications that result from cloning a child to replace a deceased spouse.

"Morpho Eugenia" in Angels and Insects (1992)  Star Rating
Debates about Darwin and religion animate this novella set in 1860 England.

Short story collection

Beaker’s Dozen (1998)  Star Rating
These thirteen short stories question the effects of genetic engineering, and whether technology should be used simply because it is available.

Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
A series of short fiction traces connections between the lives of early evolutionary theorists and their contemporary counterparts.

Speciation

"Birds With No Feet" in Ship Fever (1996)  Star Rating
Explorer who sees parallels between his life and Alfred Wallace's imagines a rivalry between them as each hopes to uncover the secret of fabled feetless birds.

Adulthood Rites: Book Two of the Xenogenesis Series (1988)  Star Rating
Kidnapped from his Oankali family, Akin bonds with factions resisting the alien intervention in human reproduction and promises to aid them in their quest for autonomy.

Beggars and Choosers (1994)  Star Rating
Beggars and Choosers, an “independent sequel” to Kress’s Beggars in Spain , traces the interlocking stories of three main characters—a Donkey, a Liver, and a Liver-Sleepless hybrid working with the SuperSleepless—in the year 2114, thirteen years after the action of the first book.

Beggars in Spain (1993)  Star Rating
The first novel in a science fiction trilogy explores both the potential positives and negatives of human genetic modification.

Darwin's Children (2003)  Star Rating
As fear and prejudice shape social reactions to a newly evolved generation of children, Stella rejects her parents for her evolved brethren.

Darwin's Radio (1999)  Star Rating
An ancient retrovirus long dormant in human genes activates, causing a rash of miscarriages that presage the births of a new species of humans, one which evokes terror and confusion from an unprepared society.

The Coming Race (1871)  Star Rating
An evolved, superhuman community lives beneath the Earth's surface

The Time Machine (1895)  Star Rating
When a Victorian scientist travels into the future in his time machine, he discovers that the human race has split into two species: the beautiful, peaceful but weak Eloi and the dangerous, animalistic Morlocks.

Thriller

Children of Men (2006)  Star Rating
In a future plagued by an infertility epidemic, one man attempts to save the first pregnant woman in eighteen years in an effort to help prevent the extinction of mankind.

Chromosome 6 (1997)  Star Rating
Thriller about transgenic animals created to provide organs for rich clients.

Darwin's Children (2003)  Star Rating
As fear and prejudice shape social reactions to a newly evolved generation of children, Stella rejects her parents for her evolved brethren.

Darwin's Radio (1999)  Star Rating
An ancient retrovirus long dormant in human genes activates, causing a rash of miscarriages that presage the births of a new species of humans, one which evokes terror and confusion from an unprepared society.

Godsend (2004)  Star Rating
When a couple agrees to participate in an experiment that will provide them with a clone of their dead son, they must face the consequences.

Hollow Man (2000)  Star Rating
A team of scientists discover how to alter the genetic code of animals to cause them to become invisible, but when the lead researcher tests the experiment on himself, things go dangerously awry.

I Am Legend (2007)  Star Rating
Immune to a viral epidemic that has killed most of humanity and turned the rest into animalistic mutants, Dr. Robert Neville is the last man in New York City and must fight to survive and find a cure.

The Island (2005)  Star Rating
Two clones in an isolated colony rebel against their fate as “spare parts” for wealthy clients.

The Sixth Day (2000)  Star Rating
An accidental cloning leads to an action-packed conspiracy and inquiry into the dangers of genetic technologies

Transgenics

Adulthood Rites: Book Two of the Xenogenesis Series (1988)  Star Rating
Kidnapped from his Oankali family, Akin bonds with factions resisting the alien intervention in human reproduction and promises to aid them in their quest for autonomy.

Chromosome 6 (1997)  Star Rating
Thriller about transgenic animals created to provide organs for rich clients.

Dawn: Book One of the Xenogenesis Series (1987)  Star Rating
An alien race rescues the survivors of nuclear war, reawakening them when Earth is once more habitable and offering them the chance to improve the human species by combining alien DNA with existing human genes.

From the Depths (Star Trek) - (1993)  Star Rating
Star Trek novel that is distinctive for its positive treatment of genetic engineering.

Imago: Book Three of the Xenogenesis Series (1989)  Star Rating
Jodahs bridges the gap between alien Oankalis and non-modified humans.

Island of Dr. Moreau, The (1896)  Star Rating
Victorian science fiction about human-animal hybrids

Island of Dr. Moreau, The (1996)  Star Rating
A mad geneticist and gun-wielding human-animal hybrids make Dr. Moreau's island a truly horrifying place.

Island of Lost Souls (1933)  Star Rating
Dr. Moreau presides over an island of human-animal hybrids that he has created.

Jurassic Park (1990)  Star Rating
Dinosaur DNA is harvested to create an amusement park of clones.

Next (2006)  Star Rating
Crichton depicts a world identical to our own—except for the transgenic animals, gene theft, rampant gene patenting, genetic profiling in divorce/custody hearings, genetic mutation as art, and more.

Oryx and Crake (2003)  Star Rating
After Jimmy’s friend Crake unleashes a manufactured supervirus, Jimmy must protect the sole survivors from dangerous transgenic creatures and bioengineered diseases.

White Teeth (2000)  Star Rating
Oppositional forces from religious and political groups converge around the genetically modified FutureMouse, revealing in the process the inherited and environmental motivations that inform these positions.

Utopia

Crystal Age, A (1888)  Star Rating
A botanist on an expedition finds himself wandering around a strange land with hyperintelligent animals and apparently ageless humans.

Legacy of Cain, The (1888)  Star Rating
Can an adopted daughter be distinguished based on amoral behaviors inherited from her mother?

The Coming Race (1871)  Star Rating
An evolved, superhuman community lives beneath the Earth's surface

Victorian

Crystal Age, A (1888)  Star Rating
A botanist on an expedition finds himself wandering around a strange land with hyperintelligent animals and apparently ageless humans.

Island of Dr. Moreau, The (1896)  Star Rating
Victorian science fiction about human-animal hybrids

The Time Machine (1895)  Star Rating
When a Victorian scientist travels into the future in his time machine, he discovers that the human race has split into two species: the beautiful, peaceful but weak Eloi and the dangerous, animalistic Morlocks.

Vivisection

Island of Dr. Moreau, The (1996)  Star Rating
A mad geneticist and gun-wielding human-animal hybrids make Dr. Moreau's island a truly horrifying place.

Young adult

The Giver (1993)  Star Rating
When Jonas turns twelve, he is selected to receive the memories of his highly regulated community -- and the process reveals disturbing truths about his origins.