Genetic engineering offers the potential to reshape life as we know it and as such has long been a topic of fascination and ethical debate. In the realm of science fiction, these experiments often take a dark turn, unleashing unforeseen consequences and moral quandaries. From monstrous creations to unintended mutations, here are the top genetic engineering experiments gone wrong in science fiction literature, film, and television.

The Jurassic Park Incident (Jurassic Park)

Both in Michael Crichton's novel Jurassic Park and in its film adaptation, genetic engineers create a theme park populated by resurrected dinosaurs. However, the genetic modifications used to bring these creatures back to life result in unpredictable behaviors and catastrophic consequences when the dinosaurs break free from their enclosures, leading to chaos and bloodshed.

Read Jurassic Park here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook. 

The Tyrant Virus (Resident Evil)

In the Resident Evil video game series and its film adaptations, the Umbrella Corporation's genetic experiments lead to the creation of the Tyrant Virus, also known as the T-Virus. Intended for military applications, the T-Virus mutates humans and animals into grotesque monsters, triggering a zombie apocalypse and threatening the extinction of humanity.

Watch Resident Evil here on Amazon Prime.

The Neomorphs (Alien: Covenant)

In the film Alien: Covenant, genetic engineers attempt to create the perfect organism through crossbreeding various lifeforms with the DNA of the xenomorphs. The result is the creation of the Neomorphs, horrifically mutated creatures that terrorize the crew of the Covenant spacecraft, leading to a desperate fight for survival against the monstrous offspring.

Watch Alien: Covenant  here on Amazon Prime. 

The Replicants (Blade Runner)

In the world of Blade Runner, genetic engineers create Replicants, bioengineered humans designed for off-world labor. However, these artificial beings rebel against their creators, leading to violent confrontations and existential questions about the nature of identity and humanity.

Watch Blade Runner here on Amazon Prime.

Want to read the book that served as the basis of the film? Check out Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Transgenic Animals (Oryx and Crake)

In Margaret Atwood's novel Oryx and Crake, genetic engineers manipulate the DNA of various animal species to create transgenic creatures with enhanced traits. However, these experiments result in ecological devastation and the emergence of dangerous hybrids, threatening the survival of the human race in a post-apocalyptic world.

Read Oryx and Crake here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

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The Cranks (Maze Runner)

In James Dashner's Maze Runner series, scientists conduct genetic experiments on human subjects to develop a cure for a deadly virus known as the Flare. However, the experimental treatments result in the creation of the Cranks, individuals who succumb to violent psychosis and become feral, posing a deadly threat to survivors in a dystopian future.

Read Maze Runner here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Bioraptors (Pitch Black)

In the film Pitch Black, a group of survivors crash-lands on a desolate planet inhabited by deadly creatures known as Bioraptors. These genetically engineered predators were initially created as bio-weapons, but their uncontrolled breeding and rapid evolution lead to a deadly infestation that threatens the survivors' chances of escape.

Watch Pitch Black here on Amazon Prime.

The Genomorphs (Young Justice)

In the animated series Young Justice, the secret organization Cadmus Labs conducts genetic experiments to create living weapons known as Genomorphs. These genetically engineered beings are intended for military applications but rebel against their creators, seeking freedom and autonomy in a world that fears and rejects them.

Pick up season one of Young Justice here on Amazon Prime.

The New Men (The Island of Dr. Moreau)

In H.G. Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau, the New Men embody a chilling fusion of human intellect and animal instinct, brought into existence through the relentless experimentation of the enigmatic Dr. Moreau. With their physical forms bearing grotesque amalgamations of human and animal features, these creations teeter on the precarious edge between civilization and savagery. Haunted by their dual nature, the New Men grapple with the existential turmoil of their existence, caught between the yearning for autonomy and the primal urges ingrained within them by their beastly ancestry.

Read The Island of Dr. Moreau here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

These genetic engineering experiments gone wrong serve as cautionary tales about the dangers of tampering with nature and the unforeseen consequences of playing god. Further, they remind us of the ethical dilemmas and moral responsibilities inherent in the pursuit of scientific progress.

We hope you've enjoyed this this thought-provoking journey through the darker side of genetic engineering as explored through science fiction. 

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