Premiered April 2020
Ken Burns' “The Gene: An Intimate History” brings vividly to life the story of today’s revolution in medical science through present-day tales of patients and doctors at the forefront of the search for genetic treatments, interwoven with a compelling history of the discoveries that made this possible and the ethical challenges raised by the ability to edit DNA with precision.
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Funding for KEN BURNS PRESENTS THE GENE: AN INTIMATE HISTORY has been provided by Genentech, 23andMe, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Gray Foundation, American Society of...
The Gene Explained | The Gene That Transformed
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What terrifying things go on inside of chrysalis, and what dark role do genes play? (3m 9s)
The Gene Explained | Is That a Banana in Your Genes?
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Humans are indeed genetically related to bananas (as well as slugs), but how exactly? (3m 21s)
The Gene Explained | Invasion of the Gene Snatchers
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How do viruses work? Sort of like an alien invasion that replaces our cell’s genetic code. (3m 1s)
The Gene Explained | Gene Damage
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What goes on in our DNA to make us grow grey hair, wrinkles and less than healthy DNA? (3m 25s)
The Gene Explained | A Big Wooly Gene
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In this episode, we delve into the difficulties of resurrecting extinct animals. (3m)
The Gene Explained | What the Gene Is That?
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See how scientists are expanding the DNA alphabet & what to look for in the search for E.T (3m 6s)
The Gene Explained | Super Gene
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See what happens if DNA code gets deleted, put in the wrong place, or switched. (2m 58s)
The Gene Explained | Good Genes Gone Bad
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What causes cancer and ways to calm down those "good genes that have gone bad." (2m 58s)
The Gene Explained | Gene Whiz! It's a Boy!
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If you're curious about the origin of boys, look no further than the Y chromosome. (2m 49s)
The Gene Explained | Gene Strike!
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Take a peek into the body's war room during the heat of battle with cancer. (2m 24s)
The Gene Explained | Gene Filled Donuts
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How DNA's mysterious instructions buried in a gene become the actual nose on a face. (2m 14s)
Nancy Wexler | Haunted by a Gene
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Nancy Wexler reveals that she has inherited the disease she has spent her life studying. (5m 20s)
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The Gene Explained (For Those Without Microscopes)
What the heck is a gene, anyway? Unpack some gene mysteries for the non-sciency types.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipHow to Watch The Gene
The Gene is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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About the Series
“The Gene: An Intimate History,” a major new documentary from Ken Burns and Barak Goodman coming to PBS in April 2020, tells the story of the stunning revolution in genetics that is transforming medical science through the experience of patients and scientists leading the search for cures to some of the world’s rarest and most complex diseases.
“The Gene: An Intimate History” is a major new four-hour documentary from Ken Burns and Barak Goodman, adapted from the award-winning book of the same name by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee. The series tells the story of the rapid evolution of genetic science from Gregor Mendel’s groundbreaking experiment in the 19th century to CRISPR, and the hope that newfound powers to alter DNA with pinpoint precision will transform the treatment of some of the world’s most complex and challenging diseases. The series also tackles the daunting ethical challenges that these technologies pose for humankind.
Production Credits
Ken Burns Presents THE GENE: AN INTIMATE HISTORY is a production of Florentine Films and WETA Washington, D.C., in association with Ark Media. Executive Producer and Senior Creative Consultant: Ken Burns. Written by Geoffrey C. Ward; and Barak Goodman & David Blistein. Based on the book The Gene: An Intimate History by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee. Narrator: David Costabile. Senior Producer: Barak Goodman. Directors: Chris Durrance and Jack Youngelson. Executive Producers: Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, Dalton Delan, Tom Chiodo, John F. Wilson and Anne Harrington.
Art Credit: Gabriel Orozco, Light Signs #3 (Korea) (1995), Medium: light box, plastic sheet, vinyl decals. Dimensions” 39-3/8 x 39-3/8 x 7-3/4 inches. Collection Walker Art Center, Minneapolis. T. B. Walker Acquisition Fund, 1996.
The Gene Explained
What the heck is a gene, anyway? This animated series won’t get you a PhD, but it does clear up a few mysteries about how genes work and what they might look like in the future. (Microscope not required.)
Funding for KEN BURNS PRESENTS THE GENE: AN INTIMATE HISTORY has been provided by Genentech, 23andMe, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Gray Foundation, American Society of...