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PBS DNA - The Secret of Life [Complete 5 Eps]

Date: 6 Mar 2010 15:42:15

Fifty years ago "The secret of life" was revealed by two unknown scientists - Dr. James D. Watson and Dr. Francis Crick - with their discovery of the double helix structure of DNA. That scientific breakthrough has been called the single most important discovery of all time. Its current applications - in modern medicine and food production, for example - have already changed the way we live now. Its future potential, specifically the controversial idea of \"genetic enhancement\" in the womb, could radically alter life as we know it. Now, for the first time on television, a groundbreaking five-part PBS series charts the comprehensive history of DNA science - from the discovery of the double helix structure to the mapping of the human genome to the latest research - and examines its current, sometimes controversial applications and implications for the future.

Since his discovery of DNA's double helix structure, covered in part one, "The Secret of Life" (1/4), Watson has remained on the front lines. He appears throughout DNA, sharing his compelling stories and offering insightful commentary on the continuing drama of subsequent scientific breakthroughs. This is an epic tale with a lively cast of Nobel Prize winners and other talented scientists such as Dr. Rosalind Franklin, whose contributions to the double helix discovery are not widely recognized and were never officially honored. For some of them, it is an opportunity to reveal the real stories behind their achievements - the frustrations, the rivalry and the excitement as they raced one another to understand the essential mysteries of life.

Playing God introduces the pioneers who carried out the first genetic engineering experiments, triggering a wave of controversy over the dangers of genetic manipulation, and generating a multi-billion-dollar industry. The program looks back on the race to produce genetically engineered insulin, which today saves millions of lives the world over, and shows how the genetic modification of plants heralded the greatest revolution in agriculture since the industrialization of farming.

The Human Race examines the race among scientists to catalogue all the genes in the human genome, essentially creating an "instruction manual" for human beings that could be used to trouble-shoot diseases and disabilities. The rivalry became so bitter that presidents and prime ministers had to intervene. In an exclusive interview for this program, President Clinton recalls his involvement in the Human Genome Project.

Curing Cancer reveals how the application of DNA science is changing - and saving lives. It tells the stories of scientists who are offering hope to terminally ill people by unraveling the mysteries of cancer. The key, they say, is tracing the many different types of cancer back to their DNA. The program recounts the inspiring story of one man whose life was saved by the first of a new generation of highly sophisticated cancer drugs that work because of the revolution in DNA science that began 50 years ago.

Pandora's Box Watson explains why he believes DNA science should be used to change the human race itself. His views are provocative, extraordinary and controversial: He argues for a new kind of eugenics that allows parents to choose the DNA of their children - to make them healthier, more intelligent, even better looking. In the program, the parents of a child with Down Syndrome and a woman who suffers from manic depression make a case for the value of differences among people in society. Watson even talks about his own son, something he rarely does publicly, who is mentally ill - a "genetic injustice" he calls it. He says, "I think it's irresponsible not to try and direct the evolution to produce a human being who will be an asset to the world."

PBS DNA Companion

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