Ken Burns Presents The Gene: An Intimate History Ken Burns Presents The Gene: An Intimate History

Documentary · 2020 · 1 hr 54 min iTunes
Available on PBS Video, Prime Video

The Gene: An Intimate History traces the evolution of genetics as researchers race to identify treatments for genetic diseases, such as cancer and sickle cell anemia, and to perfect tools for rewriting DNA. Art credit: pbs.org/thegene

Documentary · 2020 · 1 hr 54 min
Starring David Costabile
Director Chris Durrance , Jack Youngelson

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1

    Episode 1

    The Gene: An Intimate History interweaves the story of the revolution in modern genetic science with stories from the frontlines of medicine, featuring patients, and researchers racing to cure the errors in their DNA that afflict them.

    52 min · Apr 7, 2020
  • EPISODE 2

    Episode 2

    As scientists learn to read the genetic code, they grapple with the dangers inherent in increasingly sophisticated and easily available methods of intervening in the very essence of what makes us human, our DNA.

    51 min · Apr 14, 2020
  • EPISODE 201

    Nancy Wexler | Haunted by a Gene

    Nancy Wexler reveals that she has inherited the disease she has spent her life studying.

    5 min · Mar 11, 2020
  • EPISODE 202

    The Gene Explained | Gene Filled Donuts

    How DNA's mysterious instructions buried in a gene become the actual nose on a face.

    2 min · Apr 1, 2020
  • EPISODE 203

    The Gene Explained | Gene Strike!

    Take a peek into the body's war room during the heat of battle with cancer.

    2 min · Apr 1, 2020
  • EPISODE 204

    The Gene Explained | Gene Whiz! It's a Boy!

    If you're curious about the origin of boys, look no further than the Y chromosome.

    2 min · Apr 1, 2020

Related

Cast & Crew

  • David Costabile

    Narrator
  • Chris Durrance

    Director
  • J‌Y

    Jack Youngelson

    Director
  • Ken Burns

    Producer
  • Chris Durrance

    Producer

About

Ken Burns Presents The Gene: An Intimate History

Documentary

The Gene: An Intimate History traces the evolution of genetics as researchers race to identify treatments for genetic diseases, such as cancer and sickle cell anemia, and to perfect tools for rewriting DNA. Art credit: pbs.org/thegene

Information

Studio
PBS
Released
2020
Rated
TV-14
© 2020 WETA

Languages

Original Audio
English (United States), German
Audio and Subtitles
English (United States) (AAC, CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
  • Español (México)
  • العربية
  • Русский
  • 简体中文
  • Français (France)
  • 한국어
  • Português (Brazil)
  • Tiếng Việt
  • 繁體中文 (台灣)
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Benin
  • Botswana
  • Cameroun
  • Cape Verde
  • Chad
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Nigeria
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Congo, Republic of
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania, United Republic Of
  • Tunisia
  • Turkmenistan
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Uganda
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Bhutan
  • Cambodia
  • 中国大陆
  • Fiji
  • 香港
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Kazakhstan
  • 대한민국
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Maldives
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • New Zealand
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Tonga
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Georgia
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Kosovo
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Montenegro
  • Nederland
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Romania
  • Россия
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Guyana
  • Honduras (Español)
  • Jamaica
  • México
  • Montserrat
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • St. Vincent and The Grenadines
  • Suriname
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Uruguay (English)
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)
  • الولايات المتحدة
  • США
  • 美国 (简体中文)
  • États-Unis (Français France)
  • 미국
  • Estados Unidos (Português Brasil)
  • Hoa Kỳ
  • 美國 (繁體中文台灣)

Copyright © 2025 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

  • Internet Service Terms
  • Apple TV & Privacy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Support
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Benin
  • Botswana
  • Cameroun
  • Cape Verde
  • Chad
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Nigeria
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Congo, Republic of
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania, United Republic Of
  • Tunisia
  • Turkmenistan
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Uganda
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Bhutan
  • Cambodia
  • 中国大陆
  • Fiji
  • 香港
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Kazakhstan
  • 대한민국
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Maldives
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • New Zealand
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Tonga
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Georgia
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Kosovo
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Montenegro
  • Nederland
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Romania
  • Россия
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Guyana
  • Honduras (Español)
  • Jamaica
  • México
  • Montserrat
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • St. Vincent and The Grenadines
  • Suriname
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Uruguay (English)
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)
  • الولايات المتحدة
  • США
  • 美国 (简体中文)
  • États-Unis (Français France)
  • 미국
  • Estados Unidos (Português Brasil)
  • Hoa Kỳ
  • 美國 (繁體中文台灣)