PUBLISHER'S DESCRIPTION

Fifty years ago two unknown scientists ran into a pub in Cambridge and announced that they had found "the secret of life". Jim Watson and Francis Crick had uncovered the double helix structure of DNA -- one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the 20th century.

This set of five documentaries charts the revolution in biology unleashed by their discovery. Among the distinguished participants in this epic story are nine Nobel Prize winners and president Bill Clinton. 'DNA' follows the rise of genetic engineering, the race to sequence the Human Genome, and the promise of a radical new way of treating cancer. It culminates in Jim Watson's controversial journey into the future of the human race.

ABOUT THESE DOCUMENTARIES

These five programmes were first broadcast by Channel 4 television in the UK during 2003. The following May they were shown, with American narration by Jeff Goldblum, on PBS in the USA. This review is of the British, PAL-encoded versions. The American (NTSC) versions are available on DVD and VHS tape from the PBS on-line shop.

Additional projects associated with these programmes are a book 'DNA -- The secret of life' by James Watson and Andrew Berry; an educational Web site, 'DNA interactive' produced by the Dolan DNA Learning Center; an associated educational DVD with clips from these programmes plus additional material, also called 'DNA interactive'; and a 33-minute educational DVD, again with material from these programmes, called 'DNA -- The secret of life'.

Major funding for these projects came from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and several other organisations.

PROGRAMME CONTENTS
Full review to follow

DISC 1

Episode 1: The secret of life
This first documentary recounts the story of the discovery of the structure of DNA.

Episode 2: Playing god
A historical account of the development of genetic modification.

Episode 3: The human race
The race to sequence the human genome.

DISC 2

Episode 4: The mortal coil
Cancer research

Episode 5: The future
Jim Watson's speculation about the shape of things to come.

ORDERING

The two DVDs may be ordered from Windfall Films Ltd, Telephone number 0845 1306142 (actually this number is for The Red, Green and Blue Company Ltd, which was responsible for the DVD authoring and distributes the DVDs).

IMPORTANT - PAL FORMAT ONLY

Please note that these PAL format DVDs will only play on a compatible computer or DVD player (NTSC-only DVD players are unsuitable). The American versions in NTSC format are available on DVD and VHS tape from the PBS on-line shop.

Please note that these five programmes should not be confused with a 33-minute educational film with a similar title, produced by the same team. This is available in NTSC format (on VHS tape or DVD) from Carolina Biological in the USA.

Copyright © National Centre for Biotechnology Education, 2006 | www.ncbe.reading.ac.uk