Secrets of the sequence. Genetics/Heredity

Description

1.Facts of Life: This report on the "Y" chromosome reveals more than just its link to maleness. It illustrates the role of the "Y" in determining that only men are prone to certain diseases, and why it is only a small number of "Y" genes that seem to be responsible for a lot of "male" behavior. 2.Attack on the Clones: Human culture has been evolving for millennia, but at some point, genetic engineering could alter the species itself. This report studies the social and political debate raging at the crossroads of human evolution and biotechnology - with guests Jerry Falwell, Christopher Reeve, Leon Kass, Arthur Kaplan, and Francis Fukuyama. 3.The Cloning Question: To clone or not to clone? This report highlights the fierce debate over the cloning of human embryos, sifting through the differences between therapeutic and reproductive cloning while presenting the arguments of those who oppose all such procedures. 4.Patent Pending: Should genes be owned and patented? Does the payoff always go to Big Pharma corporations? What happens when two determined parents patent the genetic code of the disease afflicting their children? This report explores the issue, including the creation of PXE International, a model gene-research advocacy group. 5.Xenografts: Will pigs eventually make up the shortfall in transplant organs? Will genetically modifying the pigs and inducing tolerance in patients make the grafts possible, or will the diseases and differences prove insurmountable? This segment searches for answers. 6.DNA in the Family Tree: Researchers in Utah are creating a global family tree - collecting genetic and genealogical information from 100,000 individuals around the world. This segment shows how the database will address issues that traditional written records can't resolve. 7.Daughters of Eve: Mitochondrial DNA does more than help cops catch criminals. It can trace human lineage - 150,000 years into the past. This segment outlines the fascinating genetic theory of "Mitochondrial Eve" as well as other surprising notions about evolution and biodiversity. 8.Justice DNA: A growing number of criminal cases succeed or fail based on DNA evidence. This segment shows how the new technology is freeing the innocent, convicting the guilty, and changing the way law enforcement investigates and prosecutes crimes.

Runtime

61 min

Series

Subjects

Genre

Date of Publication

[2008], c2007

Database

Films on Demand

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