Unlocking the Hidden History of DNA

Investigating the independent discoveries of genes and of DNA in the mid-1800s; following both trails into the 20th century, as chromosomes are discovered and the realization finally begins to dawn that genes and DNA may be related.

Joining the quest to understand the molecular biology of the gene with the famous blender experiment, which shows that DNA, not proteins, transmits genetic information; looking at five scientists who compete to solve the mystery of DNA's structure.

In a race to find the structure of DNA, James Watson and Francis Crick get a key clue.

Because DNA is only a blueprint, the discovery of its double helix structure is just the beginning; understanding how DNA synthesizes proteins; a dark horse researcher makes the crucial breakthrough; DNA fingerprinting becomes possible in the 1980s.

Covering the Manhattan Project of DNA, the Human Genome Project, to sequence all three billion base pairs of human DNA; Francis Collins and Craig Venter compete to reach the costly goal, which requires new technologies and disputed methods.

The decoding of the human genome paves the way for Project ENCODE, which identifies functional elements in the genome; focusing on examples that are central to human culture, such as language; probing the role of mutations and nature's gene splicing.

Probing the role of microbes, not just the ones that make one sick, but those that get incorporated into one's DNA; the placenta appears to be an adaptation derived from an invasive virus; learning why eight percent of our genome is viral in origin.

Learning why cells behave very differently partly due to epigenetics; in epigenetics, the DNA genetic sequence remains constant, but the activity of that sequence changes; epigenetics also explain how the inheritance of traits can be influenced.

Scientists are able to chart humanity's shared heritage with a multitude of species; evidence of breeding between modern humans and Neanderthals; peering into the human genome to read these and other clues about humans' multifaceted history.

Delving into historical questions DNA answers, involving figures such as King Tutankhamun, Genghis Khan, Thomas Jefferson and King Richard III; considering Abraham Lincoln to ask where humans draw the line in reading genetic secrets from the past.

Investigating the first precision technique for genetic engineering, CRISPR; tracing the history of CRISPR-based techniques, from a coastal salt marsh to the fight over patents; considering the potential for abuse of this tool.

The genetic basis for certain diseases; how personalized genetic medicine might be customized to hidden DNA histories; what makes the challenges so daunting; the mechanisms behind different cancers; how genetics helps to disentangle the differences.