DNA Dreams. China's Genetic Research

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What if we could identify the genes for human intelligence? Would a brave new world of perfect people be our future? This program profiles two young scientists at China's BGI, an internationally-renowned genome sequencing center, raising questions about the societal implications of their work. The video follows 18-year-old Zhao Bowen as he seeks a genetic basis for cognitive skill by analyzing the DNA of 2,000 highly gifted children. Bowen's belief is that IQ should be as precisely measurable as length. At BGI's cloning facility, 25-year-old Lin Lin's job is to produce rat-sized pigs that would be marketable as laboratory test animals; she expresses pride in the life she says she created. The film hints at concerns that BGI's research may lead to screening for intelligence in unborn babies and invites discussion about the concept of "creating life," especially through the selection of specific traits.