Posts filed under ‘Genome’
Genome Project – Results To Be Unveiled (2000)
Barcode (ID): 03B0557113 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Genome
Date of Broadcast: 16th June 2000
Clip Duration: 3 min 4 seconds
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Description: The race to write the Book of Life has ended in a draw after a bitter feud that’s lasted nearly two years. Ten days from now – if all goes to plan – the public Human Genome Project and the private American company Celera will simultaneously unveil the results of their projects costing well over a billion pounds. The agreement is being welcomed by drug companies: they see the breakthrough as opening a new era of medical treatment.
- Prof. Stephen Rose from the Open University talks of the genome project and controversy over patents
- Debate about whether it is ok to patent strings of DNA
- Celera has already patented – will restrict drug development why the pharmaceutical companies are opposed
- 3rd world countries are being left out of genetic developments
- At the moment the human genome project is not giving us decent medical research that can be used properly
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Health – Gene Mapping (2000)
Barcode (ID): 03B0554019 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Genome
Date of Broadcast: 20th February 2000
Clip Duration: 7 min 20 seconds
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Very descriptive video about the cost of the genetics industry, the key players, the advantages and disadvantages to the general public
Description: The genetic revolution has begun and there is little doubt it will revolutionise the way we prevent and treat disease. Venture capitalists and corporations are rushing to stake a claim in the technology of the future. They are risking so much money that leading scientists meeting in Washington this weekend are warning that wealth not health could set the research agenda. Report on the race to map all the genes in the human body.
- Billions dollars are flowing into genetics – screening for diseases, drugs tailor-made to suit the patient, gene therapy, genetic repair kits, cancer treatments
- David Gardner set up the website fool.com and thousands buy into his advice to buy into genetics company
- 50,000 dollars invested into Celera – now worth 5 million
- Pharmacia & Upjohn and Monsanto also invested as believe Celera will be the first
- Founder Chris Ventor
- Employees talk about the joys of working
- What to patent genes, and charge universities for use of their data – not made him very popular
- Some believe it is not worth anything – relates it to 2 copies of a shredded encyclopedia
- Celera share prices – 20 dollars to 150 dollars – after announcement $270
- Company now valued at $6 billion dollars even though it is set to make a loss
- Ethics – patents before patients – worries
- Preventive measures over insurance companies – to stop any discrimination
- Germ line engineering – some ethicists are in favour – used for life long resistant to cancer for example
- Fuzzy section due to copyright – shows Greenpeace video
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Health – Genetic Human Map Completed – 2 videos (2000)
Health – Genetic Human Map Completed (video 1)
Barcode (ID): 09B0462129 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Genome
Date of Broadcast: 26th June 2000
Clip Duration: 4 min 1 second
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Description: The biggest breakthrough in medical science – certainly for a generation and possibly in the history of mankind – was announced today. Scientists have cracked the human genetic code – the complicated blueprint that makes us all who we are. Hailing today’s achievement, President Clinton said: “We are learning the language in which God created life.” The implications are vast holding out the prospect of cures for diseases like cancer and diabetes, and reversing the effects of ageing.
- Scientist in London and Washington announced the first draft of the human genome map
- Laboratory robots on 3 continents have been racing to complete the map
- COuld be the greatest ever scientist achievement
- ‘We shall finally understand our bodies’
- Read genes by smashing them to pieces and putting back together
- Facts – ‘New treatments for cancer and inherited disorders, new range of drugs, extend lifespan to hundreds of years’
- All in the future, today is a milestone
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Health- Genetic Human Map Completed (video 2)
Barcode (ID): 09B0230401 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Genome
Date of Broadcast: 26th June 2000
Clip Duration: 3 min 12 seconds
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Description: The biggest breakthrough in medical science – certainly for a generation and possibly in the history of mankind – was announced today. Scientists have cracked the human genetic code – the complicated blueprint that makes us all who we are. Hailing today’s achievement, President Clinton said: “We are learning the language in which God created life.” The implications are vast holding out the prospect of cures for diseases like cancer and diabetes, and reversing the effects of ageing.
- Carol Jenning life is linked to chromosome 22 – Alzheimer runs in the family
- Believes no point in having the test as there is no cure!
- What about testing the child while still in the womb?
- Todays announcement was about the benefits of the completion of the map
- Gene Ethics – disease, eradicate disability, create drugs
- Gene Ethics concerns – Insurance companies, pre-natal screening (selective abortion cheaper option)
- Case Study – Mother and daughter who both suffer from brittle bone disease believe ‘the less disabled people there are the harder it is for those disabled left – it will never eradicate disability and the only thing that makes the fact that i am disabled a problem is other peoples attitudes’
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Health – Genetic Tests – Patents (2000)
Barcode (ID): 09B0461845 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Genetic Testing, Genome
Date of Broadcast: 24th July 2000
Clip Duration: 3 min 22 seconds
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Description: After all the warnings of biotech firms trying to buy up rights to your genes it’s happening. The NHS is facing a massive bill for women who need to be tested for cancer. Channel Four News has learned that an American company is just weeks off securing the European patent for genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer. The company, Myriad will have the rights to the test called BRaCA One and plans to charge the NHS to use it. Myriad already charges between £1,500 to £2,000 for women wanting the test privately. Now clinicians are warning that if this goes ahead other companies will charge for the use of their patented genes.
- 5-10% of breast and ovarian cancers are inherited
- Women can be tested for specific genes
- One gene is about to secure a gene patent and so charge for it to be used
- Problems – reduce the number of people tested
- The American company Myraid and its UK partner Rosgen, charge £1,500 to £2000
- Patents in America and due to hold patent in Europe including UK
- Department of Health Statement – ‘Rosgen have recently launched a commercial genetic test for breast cancer and the Department of Health is currently in negotiations to secure the best possible BRCA testing service for the NHS…women will continue to receive the BRCA test on the NHS.’
- Problem – if NHS do not agree to the terms and conditions they would be sued in court – it is not what science is all about
- Problem – Rosgen could charge for the use of the gene testing back to when the patent was first filed
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Science – Chromosome Deciphered (1999)
Barcode (ID): 03B0548711 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Genetic Testing, Genome
Date of Broadcast: 1st December 1999
Clip Duration: 2 min 16 seconds
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Scientific illustration about structure of DNA
Description: It’s been described as the opening of the book of life. Scientists unravelling the human genetic code have for the first time deciphered an entire chromosome – chromosome number 22 to be exact. It is just one many coiled strands of DNA found in the nucleus of every human cell – the genetic recipe that makes a human being. The sequence published in the journal, Nature, tomorrow, is the first phase of an electronic database that heralds a biological revolution.
- Over 200 computers in Cambridge are writing the ‘book of life’
- End of mapping the human genome
- First chromosome described (chromosome 22)
- 2-3 years complete describtion of all chromosomes
- Diagram/illustration of the structure of DNA
- Chromosome 22 – the second smallest, up to 27 human disorders linked to faults on this piece of DNA
- Aim – to be able to tailor drugs to specific human being
- Challenge ahead – to find out how all genes work and how to use it wisely
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Insurance/Genetic Testing (1997)
Barcode (ID): 03B0238053 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Genome, Genetic Testing
Date of Broadcast: 18th February 1997
Clip Duration: 3 mins 40 seconds
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High ethical content on discrimination of people who have had genetic tests to determine whether they carry the gene for particular genetic diseases and whether they are able to take out life insurance or even a mortgage for a house
Description:
Insurance companies have announced a new policy that will force people who have been genetically tested for an illness to disclose the results if they want life cover.
- Brother within family died due to heart disease- rest of family genetically tested
- Cannot get life insurance
- Scans show Russell Veitch has early stages of heart disease
- Insurance companies say any genetic testing must be declared however results are not taken into account if life insurance is taken out and the customer has a mortgage of less than £100,000
- Example: Mick Newing and his son – advises testing against genetic disease as even though his symptoms are incredibly mild (a slight skin rash) he cannot get a mortgage
- Scientists say, as field of genetics expands, the tests will not be specialised enough to identify who will develop the disease and cannot be used for life insurance!
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