Videos

Carl Zimmer looked at heredity, biomedical technology, and the ethics of scientific intervention.

From the 2010 Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville, Virginia, Rebecca Skloot discussed her book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

Biologist Jennifer Doudna spoke about the future of genetics and the power to control evolution. Ms. Doudna was calling for a worldwide moratorium on the use of the new gene-editing tool…

Shaping San Francisco hosted a forum on human genetic engineering and synthetic biology. Scientists working on glowing plants, hornless cows, and 3-D bio-printers talked about the ethics of…

The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives held a hearing on the bioethical issues surrounding fetal tissue transplant research. The investigative…

Witnesses testified at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Planned Parenthood medical procedures. Planned Parenthood had come under fire following the release of videos alleging it sold…

This is the first hour of debate before the vote that approved establishing a Select Investigative Panel of the Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding the medical procedures and…

Adam Keiper talked about the Summer 2015 issue New Atlantis Magazine, which explores technology and society, and the recent issue focusing on human cloning. This program was part of a “Washington…

Peter Sullivan was interviewed by phone about the Senate vote on a bill to revoke federal funding for Planned Parenthood following an advocacy group’s release of videos alleging Planned…

Sarah Ferris talked about congressional responses to two videos released by an anti-abortion group allegedly featuring Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of fetal tissue for medical…

Kelly Happe talked about her book, The Material Gene: Gender, Race, and Heredity after the Human Genome Project, in which she discusses the cultural and social impacts of the study of…

David Masci of the Pew Research Center outlined a new report titled “Living to 120 and Beyond: Americans' Views on Aging, Medical Advances and Radical Life Extension.” The report considers radical life…

Sam Kean talked about his book, The Violinist’s Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code, in which he explores the importance of DNA. He…

Professor Robert Rydell of Montana State University talked about the history of eugenics in early 20th century America. Eugenics is a science that advocates improving the hereditary qualities of a race…

Vermont state archivist Tanya Marshall talked about the history of the eugenics movement in Vermont and a study conducted by a University of Vermont professor interested in eliminating “defective” traits in…

Michael Willrich examined the smallpox epidemic in America in the early 1900s. The author detailed the government’s initiatives to deter the spread of the disease by requiring mandatory vaccinations…

Thomas Banchoff talked about his book, Embryo Politics: Ethics and Policy in Atlantic Democracies. The interview, part of Book TV’s college series, was recorded at Georgetown University in…

Mr. Teresi makes the controversial argument that the business of organ harvesting is blurring the line between life and death. He contends that organ harvesting puts pressure on medical…

Carl Elliot talked about his book White Coat, Black Hat: Adventures on the Dark Side of Medicine. He was interviewed by the crew of the C-SPAN Digital Bus. The date and location are not…

Lois Shepherd talked about her book, If That Ever Happens to Me: Making Life and Death Decisions after Terri Schiavo (The University of North Carolina Press, 2009). She was interviewed…