A two-part series of “The Gene”, a PBS documentary, will air on April 14, 2020. The film, by Ken Burns, is based on a book with the same title written by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a Columbia oncologist.

According to Columbia News, the documentary delves into genome sequencing tools and genetic engineering. These new techniques are responsible for the precise targeting and editing of genomes which is an organism’s complete set of DNA.

This new technology comes with the burden of ethical considerations such as privacy issues and also the moral aspects of genetically engineered humans.

In the documentary, several researchers discuss their personal genetic legacies along with the exploration of the history and science of genetics.

Dr. Mukherjee expressed his belief that anyone writing a book on heredity will naturally gravitate towards his or her own thoughts or experiences on the subject. That is what viewers will see in this timely film.

What Inspired the Book?

Dr. Mukherjee’s book on cancer, “The Emperor of All Maladies”, won a Pulitzer Prize. Although his work primarily involves cancer, the idea of “The Gene” evolved while he was writing his prize-winning book.

During the interview with Columbia, the discussion turned to Dr. Mukheerjee’s own family. He explained that his two uncles, cousin and others in his sphere had various types of bipolar and schizophrenia diseases. It was for this reason that he delved into his genetic roots. He wanted to find out how these diseases developed. He also pondered what would cause some people to have the genes but not the illness.

Four members of Columbia’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons also appear in the documentary along with Dr. Mukheerjee.

Nancy Wexler, PhD

Dr. Wexler’s 1993 project on Huntington’s disease discovered a gene that was responsible for the disease. She began her project in 1979 and explored a Venezuelan family with eighteen thousand people. The project required collecting thousands of skin and blood samples from the extended families. The samples required genetic analysis by teams of scientists in search of the gene.

About Huntington’s Disease

The disease is incurable. Huntington’s results in neural degeneration and death. Although members of Dr. Wexler’s family have Huntington’s, Dr. Wesler delayed being tested for the disease.

She finally agreed to being tested and the results came back positive. However, thanks mostly to her previous work, a treatment is being developed.

Wendy Chung PhD

After discovering over forty genetic conditions, Dr. Chung is known as an authority on rare genetic diseases. When a child is suspected of having a rare or unknown disease, he or she is often referred to Dr. Chung.

She is also known for her study of spinal muscular atrophy that resulted in a new standard of early, nationwide screening for newborns with the condition.

Dr. Chung’s research is extensive. For example, it covers obesity, congenital abnormalities and susceptibility to cancer.

As the supervisor for medical education in human genetics, Dr. Chung has acquired a vast following for her mentoring and teaching skills.

Her hard work combined with her extraordinary talent earned her Columbia’s Presidential Teaching Award.

David Goldstein, PhD Medical Sciences

Dr. Goldstein was one of the first recipients of the UK’s Royal Society/Wolfston merit awards for research. To his credit, Dr. Goldstein holds numerous, prestigious awards and positions in genomic medicine.

He founded Columbia’s Institute for Genomic Medicine in 2015. One of its functions is to study how genetic variations are linked to disease. If successful, the findings will lead towards treatment of many diseases.

Dr. Goldstein and his associates had an opportunity to use precision medicine to treat a young patient while he was still studying the technology at Duke University.

With the aid of genome sequencing, Dr. Goldstein and his team discovered a gene mutation that caused the toddler’s weakened muscles. The rare gene mutation prevented her body from metabolizing vitamin B2. Treating the child with high doses of oral B2 restored her to good health.

Dr. Goldstein explained that although sequencing does not always identify a patient’s disease or how to treat the patient therapeutically, there is “no question” that any child suspected of having a genetic disease should have their genome sequenced.

Samuel Sternberg, PhD

Scientists are hopeful that the recent advances in gene editing will be successful in providing safety and precision for use in a patient’s genome. Dr. Samuel Sternberg, assistant professor of molecular biophysics and biochemistry, is working to improve these technologies.

CRISPR has become the most important gene editing system currently in use. Dr. Sternberg began his career as a PhD student working under the guidance of Dr. Jennifer Doudna, a pioneer in gene editing.

After working at a San Francisco biosciences start up, Dr. Sternberg established a laboratory at Columbia University. His team has been credited with major improvements in CRISPR as reported in the N. Y. Times and journals such as The Scientist and many others. (For a closer look at CRISPR, please click here).

The doctors are in agreement that any patients suspected of having a genetic disease should undergo a careful interpretation of their genomes.