Show Overview

"DNA: The Secret of Life" begins with a brief history of the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953 by Francis Crick and James Watson. Knowledge of DNA's structure, the molecule that forms basis of all life, assisted biologists in understanding the cellular mechanisms within all species, from bacterium to mice. The DNA structure within every cell of every living organism provides the instructions by which all characteristics, seen and unseen, are formed. Life has a dependence, or reliance, upon DNA and the code that it contains. In this code lies the key to understanding how a single cell can become a mouse, a whale, or a human as well as show how similar all creatures are. The movie looks at replication, transcription, and translation, and how these three simple processes have the immense impact on our word.

Ultimately, the discovery of the helical structure and an understanding of the genetic factors within smaller organisms have paved the way for advancements in science. The movie explores the technological advances that have occurred because of the discovery of the structure of DNA and also within the field of genetic science. For instance, computer technology has provided scientists with the necessary tools to map the entire human genome. A genome is the total DNA within an organism. With completed genomes, it is possible to know all genes by sequence; moreover, finished genomes allow scientists to know the DNA sequences that have been evolutionarily conserved between any two organisms.

With the completion of the Human Genome Project (HGP) in 2002-3, we are on the brink of curing diseases and providing more effective treatments. Already, we are able to study genes and the effects of mutations on these genes. Advances in genetics and genomics have impacted the workforce by calling for more specialized, computational training in the sciences. A brief history of the Human Genome Project and its significance to the future are also included in DNA: The Secret of Life.

"DNA: The Secret of Life" is appropriate for students in grades six through twelve. The movie runs approximately 35 minutes.

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