Genetics: The science and the controversies. Take a look at these new videos from the Library's Media Collection...

Making better babies : genetics and reproduction

[DVD-1398]. 2003. 57 mins.

How far should people be allowed to go in trying to have better babies? And whose definition of "better" should prevail? This Fred Friendly Seminar moderated by Dateline NBC correspondent John Hockenberry considers the ethical dilemmas facing individuals and society that grow out of prenatal testing and genetic options that may be available in the future -- such as cloning.

Who gets to know? : genetics and privacy

[DVD-1399]. 2003. 57 mins.

When it comes to genetic testing, how much should a patient be told? If the news is bad, who else should the patient inform? And should such privileged information be made available to employers, insurance companies, and others? This Fred Friendly Seminar moderated by Harvard Law School's Arthur Miller offers a compelling discourse on the far-reaching ethical, social, legal, and economic implications of genetic testing.

Genes on trial : genetics, behavior, and the law

[DVD-1400]. 2003. 57 mins.

Could genetic research stigmatize people who carry a "bad" gene? Could the behavior actually be determined by that gene? If so, then just how free is free will? Moderated by Harvard Law School's Charles Ogletree, this Fred Friendly Seminar scrutinizes social, ethical, and legal issues involving genetic research into undesirable traits such as addiction to alcohol by exploring the relationship between the genetic basis for addiction and the limits of personal responsibility.

Double helix

[DVD-1364]. 2004. 107 mins.

Dramatization ... of the diligent research, creative analysis, and perseverance of James Watson and Francis Crick that led to the discovery (structure of DNA). With the help of their colleague, Maurice Wilkins, they also earned the 1962 Nobel Prize.

Genetics (Series: 100 Greatest Discoveries)

[DVD-1333]. 2005. 46 mins.

Host Bill Nye examines thirteen contributions to the field of genetics in this Discovery Channel University video: Mendel's rules of heredity; Morgan's detection of chromosomal gene location; Beadle and Tatum's "one gene, one enzyme" concept; McClintock's discovery of transposons; acceptance of DNA as the basis of genetic information; Watson and Crick's double helix; Nirenberg's genetic code; discoveries of RNA; Jeffrey's DNA identification technique; and the Human Genome Project.

Genetic engineering

[DVD-1275]. 2002. 20 mins.

Provides an overview of genetics and cloning as they occur both in nature and in the laboratory while addressing the ethical and social implications of genetic engineering. Reviews the basics of genetics and looks at how the Human Genome Project is contributing to progress in medicine. Introduces recombinant DNA technology and shows how it is used to manufacture insulin from human genes. Discusses the principles involved in cloning whole organisms and looks at how Dolly the sheep was successfully produced. Uses a case study involving spinal muscular atrophy to discuss therapeutic cloning.