Visions of the future : the biotech revolution.

Presented by Michio Kaku, this documentary looks at the prospects of a biomolecular revolution and to how, in the future, we might alter the future of humanity. Doctors can now not only diagnose illness but predict future possible diseases; Kaku visits a doctor who attempts to analyse his genome. We hear about treatmetns for conditions such as severe combined immunodeficiency, using genetically modified stem cells. However, cancers are caused not only by rogue genes but also by environmental factors; a project is underway to form a cancer genome atlas documenting every single genetic mutation in all known cancers. This kind of research is entirely dependent on the kind of calculations only super computers can make. However, how would the knowledge of our complete genetic determination affect us? Other areas covered are genetic manipulation of the ageing process, cloning, memory and physical enhancement. How will all these possibilities affect the future? Will we have a generation of designer children?