QUESTION: Cloning or Genetics Themed Story/Poem Ideas?

[Ryan Goble]

I was torn on where to put this question as I didn't want to ask just science teachers or just American lit teachers so this Poets and Writers group is a nice open ended group for anyone that deals with writing. 

I'm wondering if anyone knows of any SHORT STORIES OR POEMS (not novels) that deal with genetics, cloning, cloned animals or cloned food. I'm working on an interdisciplinary bio/English class and we're already screening a cloning themed movie (and I have tons of non-print media on this topic) but I thought I would ask around and see if anyone knew of cool short fiction / poetry texts.

Thanks for your help!

Ryan;)

[Shirley Durr]

 

Biology in Science Fiction: Free Stories

You can actually download stories to read. Some well-known award authors are included.

 

The Science Fiction Poetry Association

Includes a forum, links to other related sites, and a few selected poems.

 

The Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide

I've linked directly to the page listing cloning related stories, etc. Only titles are provided (as far as I've seen).

I know of stories I've read with this theme but can't remember titles just now. I could research the collections I have but if I knew what age/grade level, it would be speedier.

 

 

[Tonia Swinehart]

House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer is a science fiction young adult literature book involving cloning. I know you don't want novels, but perhaps for high school students it would be a quick read.

[Ryan Goble]

Tonia, thank you so much - I'll be sure to check that out - high interest YA lit is the ticket!

[Ryan Goble]

Shirley, Woza - those sites are awesome - thank you so much! You are the bestest!

[Svea]

Try Ray Bradbury for short stories.  Novels, we've used Watchers by Dean Koontz.  It's from the 1980's but is amazing how much of the science fiction in it has become science truth.  We use the movie Gattaca.  Also, 8th grade novel, so rather short is the Giver.  Its' not so much cloning but genetic selection.

http://www.ruthozeki.com/   Ruth Ozeki's All over Creation contemporary novel is about genetic modification in potatoes.  Her other book about meat handles, well, meat production and modification.  They are both contemporary novels with strong story lines.  Fiction.

I hope this helps.
Svea

[Ryan Goble]

Svea, Thanks as always - great ideas!

[Kelle]

Not a short story or poem, but Never Let Me Go deals with cloning as does the movie The Island.

[Ryan Goble]

Thanks Kelle - yeah, I JUST read that this fall.  Still haven't seen the movie, have you?  Was it cool?

[Shirley Durr]

There's a novella by Nancy Kress -- "Beggars in Spain" --about genetic manipulation. It won all sorts of Science Fiction awards and Kress later expanded it into a full novel of the same title. The website I've linked to the title explains that the novel could be easily read as 4 independent stories. I've read it as both a novella (a favorite Science Fiction form) and a novel, and I agree with this part of the person's assessment. The beginning is the part I originally read as novella.

A brief part of the summary that you'll find on the website and directly relates to your title:

"The book opens with the Camdens meeting with the doctor who will genetically modify their baby. They begin with normal things: blond hair, green eyes, slender, musically inclined, intelligent. Then, Mr. Roger Camden requests a removal of the need for sleep.

His planned daughter, Leisha Camden, is the twenty-first "Sleepless". In the years after her birth, there are many more parents who choose this alteration for their offspring; in under two decades there are over 3,000 in the United States alone."

I'm still trying to remember or find short stories but keep coming up with novels such as others are listing.

[Ryan Goble]

Cool - I will for sure check it out!

 

RRG:)