Ivy's genes.

There are three generations of achondroplasia in Dr. Tom Shakespeare's family - his father, himself, and his daughter. On hearing that scientists have isolated the gene for achondroplasia, Dr. Shakespeare (University of Newcastle) sets out to clarify the position of disabled people in a society in which pre-natal diagnostic tests are becoming increasingly available. He sets these developments against the history of eugenics and asks what problems will be encountered by children currently growing up with a genetic disability in these "testing times". Also taking part in the programme is Prof. John Byrne (Dept. of Genetics, University of Newcastle)