History Main / CreatingLifeIsBad

* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour:'' Of the Enclave, Jerome Hamilton is the only one to start having cold feet when their creation, Him (later known as Adam Warlock), starts pre-emptively attacking them before even being properly born. He comes to the conclusion that they never should've tried creating life in the first place, and therefore the best solution is kill Him before he's fully born.

* ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' has many artificial beings as characters -- most of whom are [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman perfectly nice]] -- but most of whom were also [[CreatingLifeIsUnforeseen made accidentally.]] The only two who were made ''deliberately,'' Galatea and Gosh, are by far the most dangerous and emotionally unstable of the bunch.

Subtrope of CreatingLife. Contrast its sister tropes CreatingLifeIsAwesome, CreatingLifeIsUnforeseen, InstantAIJustAddWater, and DeityOfHumanOrigin. Different than SexIsEvil, unless artificial creation of life is explicit symbolism for sex.

** ''Film/JurassicPark1993'' initially shows us that CreatingLifeIsAwesome!, but not all the characters agree. When the dinosaurs are released by the FatBastard, the film falls cleanly into Creating Life Is Bad.

** ''Film/JurassicParkIII'' drives the point home even farther, with Alan Grant having transformed into a sarcastic, somewhat bitter man due to his experience in the Park. He calls the dinosaurs [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke "genetically engineered theme-park monsters"]] and calls the scientists out for PlayingGod.

** ''Film/JurassicPark'' initially shows us that CreatingLifeIsAwesome! But, not all the characters agree. When the dinosaurs are released by the FatBastard, the film falls cleanly into Creating Life Is Bad.

-->'''Amanda Kirby''': This is how you make dinosaurs?\\
'''Dr. Alan Grant''': No. This is how you play God.

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[Film/Frankenstein1931 "IT'S ALIVE! NOW I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE GOD!]]'']]

* In ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', Doctor [=McCoy=] is outraged at the implications of the Genesis Project, though in his case, it was for the same reasons that David was concerned about working with Starfleet on the project: While Genesis was designed to create life, its method of doing so (a ApocalypseHow/Class6 apocalypse followed by rebuilding from scratch) could also make it the most devastatingly powerful weapon ever created. Indeed, it is shown in ''Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome'' that the creation of the Genesis Device had caused increased tensions between the Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire, who had similar concerns.

* SHODAN in ''VideoGame/SystemShock'' is seen performing a variety of biological mutation experiments on Citadel Station, intending to have these violently insane mutants, once perfected, replace humanity. The pod they are on is jettisoned partway through the game, but said pod shows up again in the sequel, its inhabitants having evolved into a HiveMind race known as "The Many", which plans on assimilating humanity into itself. One character mentions that SHODAN should never again be allowed to play God... not just because of the horrific results, but also because "she's far too ''good'' at it."

* Gargamel in ''ComicBook/TheSmurfs'' created Smurfette as a weapon to destroy the Smurfs, with that purpose being more apparent in the AnimatedAdaptation and in [[Film/TheSmurfs the film series]]. When Papa Smurf turned her into a real Smurf, Gargamel in the comic books abandoned the idea of creating any similar life forms, while Gargamel of [[WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs the cartoon show]] tried it again by creating a giant named Doofus, and Gargamel of the film series created the Naughties in ''Film/TheSmurfs2'' with the intention of them being turned into Smurfs so [[PoweredByAForsakenChild he could extract their essence to power his magic]], create more Naughties to turn into Smurfs, and gain enough power for world domination and total destruction of the Smurfs.

** Every alchemist who tries human transmutation, creating life, or resurrecting the dead suffers this in the 2003 anime [[spoiler:as it is these attempts that create homonculi in [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist this version]]. Greed implies that Team Evil has had several of them through the ages, with himself and Envy being the oldest at the moment.]]

In many lores and settings, humans creating life (especially [[ArtificialHuman intelligent life]]) are not [[CreatingLifeIsAwesome awesome]], and the act of creation does most certainly ''not'' make them [[DeityOfHumanOrigin valid Gods]]. On the contrary, the act is considered to be a foul act of hubris, often referred to as Playing God. Even if the character doesn't [[AGodAmI claim to be (like) one]].

[[folder:Radio]]
* In ''Radio/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'', Marvin the Paranoid Android reveals that the Question to the Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything is imprinted in Arthur Dent's brain waves. Zaphod Beeblebrox says Marvin is making it up, to which Marvin retorts:
-->Making it up? Why should I make anything up? Life's bad enough without creating more of it.

* ''VideoGame/{{Geneforge}}'' is all over this, since your {{Mons}} come from genetic engineering. The relationship between [[SlaveRace serviles]] and humans is repeatedly paralleled to institutionalized slavery... With eugenics turned UpToEleven... That explodes into an open race war and magical WMD race from the third game on. This can even work its way into gameplay--you might [[VideoGameCaringPotential find yourself unwilling]] to make a [[OlympusMons drakon]] if the MP requirement means you'll have to dissolve that [[MascotMook Fyora]] you've been keeping around for ten levels. [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential Or you might not even give it a thought.]]

* In UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' comics, this formed part of Lex Luthor's origin. Young Lex Luthor was an aspiring scientist who resided in Smallville, the hometown of Superboy. Luthor saved Superboy from a chance encounter with Kryptonite. In gratitude, Superboy built Luthor a laboratory, where weeks later, he managed to create an artificial form of life. Grateful in turn to Superboy, Luthor created an antidote for Kryptonite poisoning. However, an accidental fire broke out in Luthor's lab. Superboy used his super-breath to extinguish the flames, inadvertently spilling chemicals which caused Luthor to go bald; in the process, he also destroyed Luthor's artificial life form. Believing that Superboy intentionally destroyed his discoveries, Luthor attributed his actions to jealousy and vowed revenge.
** In the ComicBook/PostCrisis Pocket Universe, though, because Superboy died before Lex Luthor had a chance to meet him, Lex was able to complete the creation of an artificial lifeform, which ended up becoming the Matrix form of ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}.

** Also, the creation of the clone army is arguably this with the clones eventually making TheEmpire possible.

[[caption-width-right:350:''IT'S ALIVE! NOW I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE GOD!'']]

* ''FrenchBaguetteIntelligence'':

* Type Blue Mu from ''Manga/TowardTheTerra'' manga have the ability to create living organisms from organic matter via [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]]. Tony uses this power to show Artella they still can have children, even if doctors have said otherwise.

* Rudy Tabootie of ''WesternAnimation/ChalkZone'' makes it a rule not to use his magic chalk to create any living creatures in the Zone unless in the direst of circumstances since the inhabitants are immortal and then it'll be his responsibility to take of more of them.

* Rudy Tabootie of ''WesternAnimation/ChalkZone'' makes it a rule not to use his magic chalk to create any living creatures in the Zone unless in the most dire of circumstances.

* In ''Anime/PokemonTheFirstMovie'', the first part alludes to many failed attempts to [[CreatingLife Create Life]], with Mewtwo being the lone survivor. [[spoiler:The MadScientist Dr. Fuji only agreed to attempt a clone of Mew in order to get funding for the project. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gUvTa8Lx98 Its true purpose was to bring the good doctor's daughter, Amber/Ai, back from the dead]].]] It ends with them [[GoneHorriblyRight suceeding in creating the world's most powerful Pokémon]].
* Type Blue Mu from ''Manga/TowardTheTerra'' manga have ability to create living organisms from organic matter via [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]]. Tony uses this power to show Artella they still can have children, even if doctors have said otherwise.

* In UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' comics, this formed part of Lex Luthor's origin. Young Lex Luthor was an aspiring scientist who resided in Smallville, the hometown of Superboy. Luthor saved Superboy from a chance encounter with Kryptonite. In gratitude, Superboy built Luthor a laboratory, where weeks later, he manages to create an artificial form of life. Grateful in turn to Superboy, Luthor created an antidote for Kryptonite poisoning. However, an accidental fire broke out in Luthor's lab. Superboy used his super-breath to extinguish the flames, inadvertently spilling chemicals which caused Luthor to go bald; in the process, he also destroyed Luthor's artificial life form. Believing that Superboy intentionally destroyed his discoveries, Luthor attributed his actions to jealousy and vowed revenge.

* A major part of the Fourth Movement of ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached''. [[spoiler:Brox]] discovers a spell that will turn inorganic items into living creatures; [[spoiler:she]] wants to use it to repopulate Baravada with monsters for the skahs to kill. To that end, [[spoiler:she]] mind-controls Paul, who seems to be able to boost spells well beyond their parameters, and teaches him the spell so he can boost it and then channel it through the Vasyn, which will boost it exponentially.

* In ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', Doctor [=McCoy=] is outraged at the implications of the Genesis Project, though in his case, it was for the same reasons that David was concerned about working with Starfleet on the project: While Genesis was designed to create life, it's method of doing so could also make it the most devastatingly powerful weapon ever created. Indeed, it is shown in ''Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome'' that the creation of the Genesis Device had caused increased tensions between the Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire, who had similar concerns.
* In ''Film/{{Prometheus}}'', [[spoiler:the Engineers']] method of creating life involves a horrific mutagen that spawns terrifying monsters [[spoiler:including humans.]]

-->'''Amanda Kirby''': This is how you make dinosaurs?
-->'''Dr. Alan Grant''': No. This is how you play God.

* [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig-zagged]] in ''Literature/TheSilmarillion''. Aulë, the patron archangel of smithing, craftsmanship, etc., gets impatient for Men and Elves to show up and decides to make some people of his own, the Dwarves. Unfortunately, he lacks the power and authority to do so, and the Dwarves are empty shells without free will. At first it looks like Ilúvatar (God, more or less) will condemn him for this, but ultimately he stops Aulë from destroying his creations and breathes true life into them instead. Opinions vary on the moral of this, but it seems to be that you must take responsibility for what you create and not destroy it just because it turns out differently than you expect, and/or that what you create ultimately belongs to God, not to you as its creator. His plans appear to have a great deal of flexibility in any case; this isn't the only time he changes creation to [[ThrowItIn accomodate the creative input]] of the Valar by a long shot.

** Consent based: The argument that only the person in question has the right to determine whether or not they should exist, not their parents, so creating them without consent (which by definition is impossible without a time machine) is therefore immoral.