Even though Irene is almost perfect, it is her imperfection, an unacceptable chance of heart failure that precludes her from achieving her dream to go into space. Yet in the end her heart does not fail. Initially she questions Vincent's "validity" and surreptitiously has him sequenced. Later she is appalled to discover that he is a "God child," but in the end she helps him maintain his deception and go into space.

The character of Jerome under goes a metamorphosis during the film. A genetically superior specimen, he is paralyzed when he attempts suicide after finishing second in a swimming race and cannot accept his failure. As Vincent observes when he first meets Jerome "there is no gene for fate." Jerome's redemption is achieved through Vincent. Early in their relationship Jerome is bitter about his fate as demonstrated through his over use of alcohol among other things. As the story...
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