Science Fiction Book Report on "Gem X" by Nicky Singer and Genetic Engineering
Science Fiction Book Project
Rachel Tyo
Physics, A1 Mr. Guy Belleman December 19, 2012 The Science Fiction Book Project is a physics project in which students describe an example of science fiction and the scientific feasibility of the author’s ideas. It promotes the school improvement writing goal by allowing a student to pick a book of their choice read it, research one topic in the book, and write a scientific paper discussing the future of the science of their chosen topic. The book chosen for this project is “Gem X” by Nicky Singer. In the book, Maxo is a GemX (who1). A GemX is a being who is genetically manipulated to be flawless. Maxo, having the top gene line up and being intelligent and handsome, is the epitome of perfect. He lives in the Polis (where1), a city in the future (when). Maxo finds a crack in his face, which is only supposed to happen to Dreggies, which are the wretched underclass of unenhanced “naturals.” Maxo begins to search for a cure to the crack in his skin (what1). Maxo is not the only GemX with a crack in his skin; thousands of others in the Polis are experiencing the same horrifying shock as him. The Leaders of the Polis don’t want to give Igo Strang, Maxo’s father and the lead scientist of the Polis, the time that it takes to do the research for why this is happening—the solution is much more dramatic than they think. Maxo tries to save himself and the others from the secrecy and lies of the Polis (why1). On the outside of the Polis where all of the Dreggies live, violence, poverty, and ugliness are routine (where2). There, lives a Dreggie named Gala (who2). Gala is looking for her missing father (what2) who “disappeared” while volunteering for scientific research in the Polis. Her dying mother’s last request is to see her father (why2). She runs into Maxo on his journey, and he may be the key to finding her father. His father was the last person to see hers, and she may be
Rachel Tyo
Physics, A1 Mr. Guy Belleman December 19, 2012 The Science Fiction Book Project is a physics project in which students describe an example of science fiction and the scientific feasibility of the author’s ideas. It promotes the school improvement writing goal by allowing a student to pick a book of their choice read it, research one topic in the book, and write a scientific paper discussing the future of the science of their chosen topic. The book chosen for this project is “Gem X” by Nicky Singer. In the book, Maxo is a GemX (who1). A GemX is a being who is genetically manipulated to be flawless. Maxo, having the top gene line up and being intelligent and handsome, is the epitome of perfect. He lives in the Polis (where1), a city in the future (when). Maxo finds a crack in his face, which is only supposed to happen to Dreggies, which are the wretched underclass of unenhanced “naturals.” Maxo begins to search for a cure to the crack in his skin (what1). Maxo is not the only GemX with a crack in his skin; thousands of others in the Polis are experiencing the same horrifying shock as him. The Leaders of the Polis don’t want to give Igo Strang, Maxo’s father and the lead scientist of the Polis, the time that it takes to do the research for why this is happening—the solution is much more dramatic than they think. Maxo tries to save himself and the others from the secrecy and lies of the Polis (why1). On the outside of the Polis where all of the Dreggies live, violence, poverty, and ugliness are routine (where2). There, lives a Dreggie named Gala (who2). Gala is looking for her missing father (what2) who “disappeared” while volunteering for scientific research in the Polis. Her dying mother’s last request is to see her father (why2). She runs into Maxo on his journey, and he may be the key to finding her father. His father was the last person to see hers, and she may be
Cited: "Genetic Engineering: What is Genetic Engineering?." Futurist - growth strategies - keynote speaker - Patrick Dixon - globalchange.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012. <http://www.globalchange.com/geneticengin.htm>. "Positive Health Online | Article - Genetic Engineering Today: The Promise and the Ethics." Positive Health Online | Homepage - Welcome to PositiveHealthOnline USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012. <http://www.positivehealth.com/article/miscellaneous/genetic-engineering-today-the-promise-and-the-ethics>. Simmons, Danielle . "Genetic Inequality: Human Genetic Engineering." Scitable by Nature Education . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012. <www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetic-inequality-human-genetic-engineering-768 >. Singer, Nicky. Gem X. New York: Holiday House, 2008. Print.