CRISPR gene-editing technology is advancing quickly. What can it do now—and in the future?
The revolutionary gene-editing tool known as CRISPR can alter, add, and remove genes from the human genome. The implications are immense: It could help eliminate illnesses like sickle cell disease and muscular dystrophy, and could even allow us to alter the genes of future generations of humans, leading to so-called designer babies. But will this ever really happen?
Medical journalist and pediatrician Alok Patel investigates the current state of CRISPR—starting with a bull calf named Cosmo. Patel discovers how scientists edited Cosmo’s genome so he would produce more male offspring, and what that means for humans. In conversation with scientists, artists, and ethicists, Patel explores what kind of gene editing is actually possible right now—and what we should be thinking about when we consider manipulating human traits and, ultimately, the human experience.
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Hosted by Dr. Alok Patel
WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY
Caitlin Saks
EDITED BY
Robert Kirwan
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Jay Colamaria
CAMERA
Arlo Pérez
UC DAVIS FIELD DIRECTOR / CAMERA
Zachary Fink
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS
Ana Aceves
Christina Monnen
Arlo Pérez
Jay Colamaria
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Lorena Lyon
INTERNS
Jessie Hendricks
Samuel Lipsey
AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE / ENGLISH INTERPRETER
Adam Bartley
ANIMATION
Edgeworx Studios
ADDITIONAL ANIMATION
2K-12 Studios
Mitch Butler
MUSIC
APM
ONLINE EDITOR AND COLORIST
David Bigelow
AUDIO MIX
Chris Anderson
ARCHIVAL MATERIAL
AP Archive
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Getty Images
He Jiankui Lab / CC BY
Penn Medicine
Pond 5
Storyblocks
SPECIAL THANKS
Mike Baylis -- Assisted in the set up of a remote interview, at no cost.
Isaac Plant -- Reviewed script and graphics for scientific accuracy, at no cost.
Elizabeth Delgado -- Reviewed script and graphics for scientific accuracy, at no cost.
Dr. Samira Kiani -- Reviewed script and graphics for scientific accuracy, at no cost.
Dr. Kim Thornton -- Interviewed but did not include in the final film, at no cost.
Participants:
Françoise Baylis
Teresa Blankmeyer Burke
Karmella Haynes
Xavier LaPlante
David Liu
Bret McNabb
Liana Novoa
Alok Patel
Ariana Pelaez
Brianna Sapienza
Niaz Uddin
Alison Van Eenennaam
Image credit: (DNA helix)
© WGBH Educational Foundation