A critical look at reproductive technology.
Making Perfect Babies
- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
Filmed in clinics and research centres where genetic manipulation of human embryos has already begun, Making Perfect Babies offers a critical examination of the new genetic technology and its potential applications. Through interviews with people like scientist and feminist, Ruth Hubbard, and disability activist Marsha Saxton, the film raises important questions about why the technology is being developed and how it may affect the lives of women and society as a whole. It warns that we may be heading toward a future in which quality control is an acceptable part of human procreation.
, 04-Jun-1993, Canada, Ottawa, Itinérant – National Watch on Images of Women in Media (Mediawatch), 14-Nov-1992, USA, Chicago, Itinerant - American Film and Video Festival, 26-May-1993
Citation
Main credits
Basen, Gwynne (film director)
Basen, Gwynne (screenwriter)
Armstrong, Mary (film producer)
Fee, Kathleen (narrator)
Buffie, Erna (screenwriter)
Other credits
Editor, Patricia Tassinari; photography, Marielle Nitoslawska; music, Air Tango.
Distributor subjects
No distributor subjects provided.Keywords
WEBVTT
00:00:05.501 --> 00:00:06.541
♪
00:00:06.542 --> 00:00:07.998
[ RADIO HOST ]:
GOOD EVENING, LOS ANGELES.
00:00:07.999 --> 00:00:11.917
IT\'S 7:07 ON KFI AM 640.
00:00:11.918 --> 00:00:15.791
THE NEXT HOUR OR SO
WE\'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
00:00:15.792 --> 00:00:17.625
A WOMAN IN THE NEWS.
00:00:17.626 --> 00:00:19.999
AND I MEAN THAT LITERALLY.
HER NAME IS BREE WALKER.
00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:22.458
MANY OF YOU WATCH HER
ON CHANNEL 2 NEWS.
00:00:22.459 --> 00:00:29.416
SHE\'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL AND
VERY PREGNANT NEWS ANCHOR.
00:00:29.417 --> 00:00:30.708
AND BREE WALKER
00:00:30.709 --> 00:00:32.998
ALSO HAS A DISFIGURING DISEASE.
00:00:32.999 --> 00:00:34.208
IT\'S CALLED SYNDACTYLISM.
00:00:34.209 --> 00:00:41.666
AND, UH, WELL, THE DISEASE IS
VERY POSSIBLY GOING TO PASSED
00:00:41.667 --> 00:00:44.958
ALONG TO THE CHILD
THAT SHE\'S ABOUT TO HAVE.
00:00:44.959 --> 00:00:47.791
AND OUR DISCUSSION
WILL BE THIS EVENING,
00:00:47.792 --> 00:00:50.124
IS IT FAIR TO PASS ALONG
00:00:50.125 --> 00:00:52.998
A GENETICALLY
DISFIGURING DISEASE,
00:00:52.999 --> 00:00:58.167
THIS DISFIGUREMENT OF
THE HANDS, TO YOUR CHILD?
00:00:59.125 --> 00:01:01.833
[ NARRATOR ]: WHEN THIS
RADIO TALK SHOW AIRED,
00:01:01.834 --> 00:01:05.666
BREE WALKER WAS ALREADY
EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT.
00:01:05.667 --> 00:01:06.998
NO ONE ASKED HER TO PARTICIPATE.
00:01:06.999 --> 00:01:09.917
[ RADIO HOST ]: LET\'S GO TO THE
PHONES... VALERIE, YOU\'RE ON.
00:01:09.918 --> 00:01:14.541
I THINK IT\'S A HORRIBLY
CRUEL THING TO HAVE A BABY
00:01:14.542 --> 00:01:16.082
KNOWING IT\'S GOING
TO BE DEFORMED.
00:01:16.083 --> 00:01:18.166
I DON\'T THINK I COULD DO IT,
00:01:18.167 --> 00:01:21.998
WITH GOOD CONSCIENCE, BRING
A KID INTO THE WORLD,
00:01:21.999 --> 00:01:22.999
KNOWING THAT I WAS GOING TO...
00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:26.998
IT WOULD BE ONE STRIKE AGAINST
THEM, COMING OUT OF THE BOX.
00:01:26.999 --> 00:01:29.833
[ CALLER ]: THE ONLY PERSON
WHO CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE
00:01:29.834 --> 00:01:33.291
WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO
HAVE SYNDACTYLISM IS BREE.
00:01:33.292 --> 00:01:35.249
[ RADIO HOST ]:
IT\'S NOT JUST BREE.
00:01:35.250 --> 00:01:37.999
WE\'RE ALL INVOLVED IN THIS.
00:01:39.542 --> 00:01:41.998
[ NARRATOR ]:
EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION.
00:01:41.999 --> 00:01:44.791
FINALLY, BREE WALKER EXPLAINS
00:01:44.792 --> 00:01:48.124
HOW SHE SEES THE CONTROVERSY.
00:01:48.125 --> 00:01:55.625
THE MESSAGE SEEMED TO BE THAT BY
OUR CHOOSING TO HAVE CHILDREN,
00:01:55.626 --> 00:02:00.999
WE WERE IMPOSING UPON
SOCIETY AN INCOVENIENCE,
00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:03.750
SOMETHING INTOLERABLE
TO LOOK AT,
00:02:03.751 --> 00:02:06.208
SOMETHING INTOLERABLE
TO DEAL WITH,
00:02:06.209 --> 00:02:11.998
UH, THAT WE WERE DRAINING
A SOCIETY OF ITS RESOURCES
00:02:11.999 --> 00:02:18.998
IF OUR CHILDREN WOULD GROW UP
AND PERHAPS NEED ANY SOCIETY...
00:02:18.999 --> 00:02:20.998
UH, ANY OF SOCIETY\'S HELP.
00:02:20.999 --> 00:02:26.917
UM, WE FEEL THAT THAT IS
A VERY INTOLERANT ATTITUDE.
00:02:26.918 --> 00:02:31.291
[ NARRATOR ]: BREE WALKER\'S CASE
MAY SEEM LIKE AN ISOLATED ONE.
00:02:31.292 --> 00:02:34.166
BUT WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS
IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY,
00:02:34.167 --> 00:02:37.124
WOMEN WILL FACE INCREASING
SOCIAL PRESSURE TO CONTROL
00:02:37.125 --> 00:02:40.999
THE QUALITY OF THE
CHILDREN THEY PRODUCE.
00:03:01.999 --> 00:03:03.750
IN OUR QUEST FOR PERFECT BABIES,
00:03:03.751 --> 00:03:09.042
WE PLACE OUR FAITH IN THE
PROMISE OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY.
00:03:18.709 --> 00:03:20.998
PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS.
00:03:20.999 --> 00:03:25.333
DOCTORS USE TECHNOLOGY LIKE
AMNIOCENTESIS TO DETERMINE
00:03:25.334 --> 00:03:30.918
THE GENETIC MAKE-UP OF THE FETUS
GROWING INSIDE A WOMAN\'S WOMB.
00:03:33.999 --> 00:03:36.958
BUT DOCTORS ARE NOW TALKING
ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED
00:03:36.959 --> 00:03:42.541
PRE-IMPLANTATION DIAGNOSIS,
DIAGNOSING A HUMAN EMBRYO
00:03:42.542 --> 00:03:44.999
BEFORE PREGNANCY BEGINS.
00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:49.500
ACCESS TO THE EMBRYO IS MADE
POSSIBLE THROUGH THE USE
00:03:49.501 --> 00:03:50.998
OF A CONTROVERSIAL PROCEDURE
00:03:50.999 --> 00:03:55.792
CALLED IVF...
IN VITRO FERTILIZATION.
00:04:02.375 --> 00:04:05.416
[ VIDEO ]: NECESSARY TO
DETERMINE WHETHER THE SAMPLE...
00:04:05.417 --> 00:04:07.041
[ NARRATOR ]:
AT THE PARIS CONFERENCE
00:04:07.042 --> 00:04:08.666
ON REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY,
00:04:08.667 --> 00:04:11.791
SALESMEN COMPETE TO SELL
THE LATEST IN IVF
00:04:11.792 --> 00:04:13.998
AND ITS TECHNOLOGICAL
OFFSPRING...
00:04:13.999 --> 00:04:18.083
PRE-IMPLANTATION DIAGNOSIS
OF THE EMBRYO.
00:04:20.292 --> 00:04:21.541
IL Y A PIRE.
00:04:21.542 --> 00:04:23.291
TU SAIS, TU AS
VU LE POSTER
00:04:23.292 --> 00:04:24.250
DE RICHARD
NOACHE LA...
00:04:24.251 --> 00:04:27.750
IVF PIONEER JACQUES TESTART
WAS THE FIRST IN HIS FIELD
00:04:27.751 --> 00:04:30.998
TO QUESTION WHERE THE NEW
TECHNOLOGY IS TAKING US.
00:04:30.999 --> 00:04:33.917
TOURNAGE CJ,
TOUTE GROSSESSE,
00:04:33.918 --> 00:04:34.999
48%, FACILE.
00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:36.583
OUI, ON PEUT
FAIRE CA.
00:04:36.584 --> 00:04:38.876
MAIS COMMENT
TU VEUX QUE...
00:05:07.999 --> 00:05:09.917
[ NARRATOR ]: CAN WE DO IT?
00:05:09.918 --> 00:05:11.333
DOES IT WORK?
00:05:11.334 --> 00:05:12.833
THAT\'S WHAT DOCTORS
WANT TO KNOW.
00:05:12.834 --> 00:05:16.750
BUT ARE THESE THE ONLY
QUESTIONS SOCIETY SHOULD ASK
00:05:16.751 --> 00:05:18.750
ABOUT PRE-IMPLANTATION
DIAGNOSIS,
00:05:18.751 --> 00:05:21.750
A TECHNOLOGY THAT
COULD ONE DAY BE USED
00:05:21.751 --> 00:05:23.999
TO ALTER HUMAN LIFE?
00:05:24.918 --> 00:05:30.417
[ VIDEO ]: A 17-GAUGE ASPIRATING
NEEDLE IS PASSED THROUGH...
00:06:13.834 --> 00:06:15.666
[ NARRATOR ]: THIS LONDON,
ONTARIO, HOSPITAL
00:06:15.667 --> 00:06:18.998
LEADS CANADA IN
EMBRYO DIAGNOSIS.
00:06:18.999 --> 00:06:21.833
THE PROGRAM IS CALLED EPICS...
00:06:21.834 --> 00:06:25.374
EARLY PRE-IMPLANTATION
CELL SCREENING.
00:06:25.375 --> 00:06:28.875
RESEARCH ON HUMAN EMBRYOS
IS ALREADY UNDER WAY.
00:06:28.876 --> 00:06:30.750
AS PART OF OUR
ETHICS PROTOCOL
00:06:30.751 --> 00:06:31.998
THAT\'S BEEN
SUBMITTED
00:06:31.999 --> 00:06:34.082
TO THE UNIVERSITY
OF WESTERN ONTARIO,
00:06:34.083 --> 00:06:36.998
WE HAVE PROPOSED
TO USE ABNORMAL,
00:06:36.999 --> 00:06:41.750
NON-VIABLE HUMAN EMBRYOS
THAT HAVE BEEN DONATED,
00:06:41.751 --> 00:06:45.541
AND SO THE PATIENTS WOULD
HAVE TO GIVE A PERMISSION
00:06:45.542 --> 00:06:48.917
TO DONATE THESE
EMBRYOS FOR RESEARCH.
00:06:48.918 --> 00:06:52.249
THEY WOULD INITIALLY COME
FROM THE IVF PROGRAM.
00:06:52.250 --> 00:06:54.958
THAT\'S REALLY THE
ONLY SOURCE AT THE MOMENT
00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:57.998
OF IN VITRO HUMAN EMBRYOS.
00:06:57.999 --> 00:07:01.998
YOU\'RE RELAXING
JUST BEAUTIFULLY.
00:07:01.999 --> 00:07:03.416
JUST
BEAUTIFULLY.
00:07:03.417 --> 00:07:07.249
EPICS WOULDN\'T EXIST
WITHOUT THIS IVF CLINIC.
00:07:07.250 --> 00:07:10.998
IN VITRO FERTILIZATION IS THE
ONLY WAY TO PRODUCE EMBRYOS
00:07:10.999 --> 00:07:12.583
OUTSIDE A WOMAN\'S BODY.
00:07:12.584 --> 00:07:17.666
HERE, MULTIPLE EGGS ARE BEING
TAKEN FROM A WOMAN\'S OVARIES.
00:07:17.667 --> 00:07:20.625
THEY WILL THEN BE
FERTILIZED IN THE LAB.
00:07:20.626 --> 00:07:26.333
HER EMBRYOS MAY BECOME THE TEST
SITE FOR GENETIC RESEARCH.
00:07:26.334 --> 00:07:28.666
IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE,
THE ONLY EMBRYOS
00:07:28.667 --> 00:07:31.208
THAT WILL BE TRANSFERRED
INTO A WOMAN\'S WOMB
00:07:31.209 --> 00:07:35.999
ARE THE ONES DOCTORS JUDGE
TO BE THE GENETIC BEST.
00:07:36.792 --> 00:07:40.917
UH, WE\'LL BE REMOVING TWO CELLS
FROM THAT EMBRYONIC STAGE,
00:07:40.918 --> 00:07:42.791
AND THOSE CELLS WOULD
THEN NORMALLY BE USED
00:07:42.792 --> 00:07:47.082
FOR GENETIC, UH, SCREENING TO
DETERMINE WHETHER THIS EMBRYO
00:07:47.083 --> 00:07:48.999
CONTAINS A PARTICULAR GENE.
00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:52.166
[ NARRATOR ]: RIGHT NOW,
THE GENES THEY\'RE AFTER
00:07:52.167 --> 00:07:53.416
ARE LINKED TO DISEASES
00:07:53.417 --> 00:07:55.791
LIKE TAY-SACHS
AND MENTAL RETARDATION.
00:07:55.792 --> 00:08:00.998
EMBRYO BIOPSY
BEGINS THE PROCESS.
00:08:00.999 --> 00:08:03.374
WHAT DOCTORS WANT
TO DIAGNOSE LIES DEEP
00:08:03.375 --> 00:08:05.998
WITHIN THE NUCLEUS
OF EACH CELL.
00:08:05.999 --> 00:08:07.791
IT\'S CALLED DNA.
00:08:07.792 --> 00:08:13.082
LOCATED ALONG 46 CHROMOSOMES,
THE DNA MOLECULE CONTAINS
00:08:13.083 --> 00:08:16.209
THE GENETIC INFORMATION
OF THE CELL.
00:08:19.792 --> 00:08:23.626
THIS IS WHAT THE RESEARCHERS
ARE REALLY AFTER...
00:08:26.125 --> 00:08:31.999
SUBMICROSCOPIC SEGMENTS
OF DNA CALLED GENES.
00:08:32.584 --> 00:08:38.833
TO READ GENETIC INFORMATION, DNA
IS AMPLIFIED MILLIONS OF TIMES,
00:08:38.834 --> 00:08:40.958
AND A NEW GEOGRAPHY BEGINS:
00:08:40.959 --> 00:08:44.042
MAPPING HUMAN GENES.
00:08:44.709 --> 00:08:47.208
WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK
WE\'VE DONE OUR VERY BEST.
00:08:47.209 --> 00:08:49.082
WITH REGARD TO THE
MANIPULATION OF THE EMBRYO
00:08:49.083 --> 00:08:52.583
FOR PRE-IMPLANTATION DIAGNOSIS,
WHAT HAVE WE DONE?
00:08:52.584 --> 00:08:53.542
BEFORE YOU WENT TO THE HUMAN,
00:08:53.543 --> 00:08:58.374
WE ACHIEVED TERM PREGNANCIES
IN MICE AND IN THEIR OFFSPRING
00:08:58.375 --> 00:08:59.958
AND IN THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.
00:08:59.959 --> 00:09:01.998
SO WE SAW SEVERAL GENERATIONS.
00:09:01.999 --> 00:09:03.998
THE SAME HAS BEEN
DONE FOR THE RABBIT.
00:09:03.999 --> 00:09:06.458
THE SAME HAS BEEN
DONE FOR CATTLE.
00:09:06.459 --> 00:09:09.500
THE SAME HAS BEEN DONE
FOR SEVERAL PRIMATE SPECIES.
00:09:09.501 --> 00:09:11.917
[ NARRATOR ]: GENETIC
MANIPULATION OF ANIMALS
00:09:11.918 --> 00:09:16.999
FORESHADOWS JUST HOW FAR
THIS TECHNOLOGY CAN GO.
00:09:21.584 --> 00:09:24.791
HEAD OF MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY,
00:09:24.792 --> 00:09:29.791
DR. BOB CHURCH IS AN EXPERT
IN GENETIC RESEARCH.
00:09:29.792 --> 00:09:32.416
ONCE YOU HAVE THE ABILITY
TO CULTURE AN EMBRYO,
00:09:32.417 --> 00:09:33.791
BECAUSE IT\'S IN
THE ZONA PELLUCIDA,
00:09:33.792 --> 00:09:36.666
THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
MANIPULATION BECOME RATHER
00:09:36.667 --> 00:09:39.708
INTRIGUING AND
DAUNTING IN SOME WAYS.
00:09:39.709 --> 00:09:42.666
AND THEY INCLUDE THE ABILITY
TO TAKE TWO EMBRYOS
00:09:42.667 --> 00:09:45.416
AND PUT THEM TOGETHER
SO THAT THEY COMBINE
00:09:45.417 --> 00:09:47.458
AND COOPERATE IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A CHIMERA...
00:09:47.459 --> 00:09:50.082
THAT\'S AN ANIMAL THAT HAS
FOUR PARENTS INSTEAD OF TWO...
00:09:50.083 --> 00:09:52.833
OR THE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR A NUCLEAR TRANSFER,
00:09:52.834 --> 00:09:55.998
WHICH IS THE CLOSEST THING
TO CLONING THAT ARE AVAILABLE,
00:09:55.999 --> 00:10:02.708
OR, LASTLY, TO INTRODUCE OTHER
FOREIGN GENETIC INFORMATION,
00:10:02.709 --> 00:10:04.998
AND PRODUCE GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED ANIMALS.
00:10:04.999 --> 00:10:06.998
[ NARRATOR ]: MANUFACTURING
IDENTICAL COPIES
00:10:06.999 --> 00:10:08.998
OF THE SAME ANIMAL.
00:10:08.999 --> 00:10:12.124
RECONSTRUCTING
THE GENETIC BLUEPRINT.
00:10:12.125 --> 00:10:17.167
THERE ARE FEW LIMITS TO WHAT CAN
BE DONE IN ANIMAL RESEARCH.
00:10:18.584 --> 00:10:22.416
WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO
IN AND DELIBERATELY ALTER
00:10:22.417 --> 00:10:25.249
THE MOUSE\'S OWN DNA
IN A VERY SPECIFIC WAY.
00:10:25.250 --> 00:10:27.998
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY, AS
IT WERE, SUBTRACT DNA.
00:10:27.999 --> 00:10:30.998
WE CAN GO IN AND MAKE
WHAT WE CALL A MUTATION,
00:10:30.999 --> 00:10:33.875
WHICH IS A CHANGE IN ONE
OF THE MOUSE\'S OWN GENES.
00:10:33.876 --> 00:10:37.291
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAD
A MOUSE, UH, THAT CARRIED...
00:10:37.292 --> 00:10:40.791
UH, THAT WAS BLACK AND HAD A
GENE FOR THE MELANIN PIGMENT,
00:10:40.792 --> 00:10:44.625
YOU COULD IN THEORY GO IN AND
MAKE A MOUSE THAT WAS WHITE,
00:10:44.626 --> 00:10:47.292
BY JUST DELETING OUT
THE PIGMENT GENE.
00:10:48.417 --> 00:10:51.374
[ NARRATOR ]: ONCE WE\'RE ON
THE TECHNOLOGICAL TREADMILL,
00:10:51.375 --> 00:10:53.249
IT\'S HARD TO GET OFF.
00:10:53.250 --> 00:10:55.791
IN JUST ONE TURN OF
THE WHEEL, WE COULD MOVE
00:10:55.792 --> 00:11:00.083
FROM GENETIC DIAGNOSIS
TO ENGINEERING HUMAN LIFE.
00:11:01.542 --> 00:11:03.998
FROM AN EMBRYO EVALUATION
POINT OF VIEW,
00:11:03.999 --> 00:11:09.583
UH, IF WE WERE TO COUPLE IT WITH
ANY IN VITRO, UH, TECHNOLOGIES,
00:11:09.584 --> 00:11:12.666
THE, UH, A SINGLE
BLASTOMERE CAN BE REMOVED
00:11:12.667 --> 00:11:15.458
FROM A PRE-IMPLANTATION EMBRYO
IN THE CULTURE DISH,
00:11:15.459 --> 00:11:18.541
AND ON THE BASIS OF THAT
YOU\'D BE ABLE TO DETERMINE
00:11:18.542 --> 00:11:21.333
WHAT THE GENETIC BLUEPRINT
OF THE EMBRYO IS,
00:11:21.334 --> 00:11:24.541
WHETHER OR NOT IT HAS
A PREDISPOSITION FOR DIABETES,
00:11:24.542 --> 00:11:26.998
WHETHER OR NOT IT HAS
OTHER HIDDEN LETHALS,
00:11:26.999 --> 00:11:30.333
WHETHER OR NOT IT\'S GOING TO BE
6 FOOT TALL OR 4 FOOT TALL,
00:11:30.334 --> 00:11:33.998
A WHOLE BUNCH OF THOSE KINDS
OF GENETIC PREDISPOSITIONS.
00:11:33.999 --> 00:11:38.998
SO THE QUESTIONS THAT WILL
BE ADDRESSED IN THE FUTURE ARE:
00:11:38.999 --> 00:11:44.875
WILL IT BE APPROPRIATE TO
CORRECT THE GENETIC INFORMATION
00:11:44.876 --> 00:11:49.166
ON THAT EMBRYO OR SHOULD
THE COUPLE TRY AGAIN?
00:11:49.167 --> 00:11:56.708
OR IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO ALLOW THAT PARTICULAR COUPLE
00:11:56.709 --> 00:11:59.291
TO COMBINE SOME GENE THERAPY
00:11:59.292 --> 00:12:03.500
WITH SOME OTHER NORMAL
REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES.
00:12:03.501 --> 00:12:08.541
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AS OUR
GLOBAL POPULATION INCREASES,
00:12:08.542 --> 00:12:12.374
I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED
IF THERE WOULD BE MORE COUNTRIES
00:12:12.375 --> 00:12:14.208
OTHER THAN CHINA
WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE
00:12:14.209 --> 00:12:19.082
A LICENCE TO CARRY A CHILD
AND BECOME PREGNANT.
00:12:19.083 --> 00:12:21.041
AND, UH, YOU KNOW,
THAT\'S NOT TOMORROW.
00:12:21.042 --> 00:12:24.083
THAT\'S A LONG WAY DOWN
THE LINE, SOMETIME.
00:12:51.999 --> 00:12:54.958
I THINK ON ONE LEVEL,
THE GENIE IS OUT OF THE BOTTLE,
00:12:54.959 --> 00:12:57.958
BECAUSE QUITE CLEARLY, ONE HAS
TO ADMIT THAT POTENTIALLY,
00:12:57.959 --> 00:12:59.541
THIS COULD BE
A DANGEROUS TECHNOLOGY.
00:12:59.542 --> 00:13:02.583
BUT I SEE IT IN THE CONTEXT
OF ALL TECHNOLOGIES.
00:13:02.584 --> 00:13:06.500
I MEAN, ALL MODERN SCIENTIFIC
TECHNOLOGIES ARE DANGEROUS.
00:13:06.501 --> 00:13:07.998
I MEAN, RUNNING A STEEL FOUNDRY
00:13:07.999 --> 00:13:11.333
HAS MAJOR IMPLICATIONS
FOR THE ATMOSPHERE.
00:13:11.334 --> 00:13:14.416
UH, THE ISSUE OF ELECTRONICS
00:13:14.417 --> 00:13:16.998
HAS MAJOR IMPLICATIONS
FOR WEAPONRY.
00:13:16.999 --> 00:13:19.082
AND THESE ARE JUST
AS EVERY BIT AS THREATENING
00:13:19.083 --> 00:13:24.417
AS THE ISSUE OF EMBRYO RESEARCH
AND GENETIC MANIPULATION.
00:13:26.584 --> 00:13:29.249
[ FILM NARRATION ]: NEVER BEFORE
HAS MAN ENTERED A NEW ERA
00:13:29.250 --> 00:13:34.541
SO ELABORATELY EQUIPPED AS HE
IS IN ENTERING THE ATOMIC AGE.
00:13:34.542 --> 00:13:35.708
NEVER HAVE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE
00:13:35.709 --> 00:13:38.998
BEEN MORE NECESSARY,
FOR WE\'RE DEALING WITH A FORCE
00:13:38.999 --> 00:13:42.998
SO GREAT THAT IT CAN CHANGE NOT
ONLY THE STRUCTURE OF MATTER,
00:13:42.999 --> 00:13:46.999
BUT THE VERY NATURE
OF LIFE ITSELF.
00:13:48.584 --> 00:13:51.998
[ NARRATOR ]: ONE SCIENTIST
MAKES THE OBVIOUS COMPARISON.
00:13:51.999 --> 00:13:55.500
\"NOW THAT WE\'VE HARNESSED THE
POWER OF THE ATOM,\" HE SAYS,
00:13:55.501 --> 00:13:57.124
\"WE MUST TURN OUR ATTENTION\"
00:13:57.125 --> 00:14:00.167
\"TO HARNESSING THE
POWER OF THE GENE.\"
00:14:04.542 --> 00:14:06.917
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ONE
OF THE GREAT THINGS
00:14:06.918 --> 00:14:09.833
FOR WHICH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT
SHOULD BE CONGRATULATED
00:14:09.834 --> 00:14:10.875
IS THAT THEY BIT THE BULLET.
00:14:10.876 --> 00:14:14.958
THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THERE
WAS A HUGE AMOUNT OF GOOD
00:14:14.959 --> 00:14:18.998
FOR HUMANKIND IN THIS RESEARCH
AND THEY VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY
00:14:18.999 --> 00:14:20.998
IN ITS FAVOUR, TRUSTING
THE SCIENTISTS,
00:14:20.999 --> 00:14:22.124
BUT SAYING AT THE SAME TIME
00:14:22.125 --> 00:14:25.583
WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE
STATUTORY REGULATION.
00:14:25.584 --> 00:14:30.459
AND THAT SEEMS TO ME WHAT
A GOOD DEMOCRACY SHOULD DO.
00:15:11.999 --> 00:15:17.750
IN A COLLECTIVE SOCIETY,
IF WE USE CHINA AS AN EXAMPLE,
00:15:17.751 --> 00:15:20.875
UH, THE GOVERNMENT, WITH
THE APPARENT APPROVAL
00:15:20.876 --> 00:15:24.249
OF THE POPULATION, HAS SAID
THAT WE HAVE A POPULATION
00:15:24.250 --> 00:15:28.082
WHICH WE CAN SUPPORT
AT THE PRESENT TIME.
00:15:28.083 --> 00:15:30.750
WE DO NOT WANT
TO HAVE A POPULATION
00:15:30.751 --> 00:15:33.625
THAT WE CANNOT SUPPORT
WITH OUR RESOURCES.
00:15:33.626 --> 00:15:36.998
SO THERE MAY BE
A JOINT VENTURE...
00:15:36.999 --> 00:15:40.249
A DECISION BETWEEN THE
POPULATION AS A WHOLE
00:15:40.250 --> 00:15:42.166
AND THE INDIVIDUAL COUPLE.
00:15:42.167 --> 00:15:44.998
AND IT MAY BE THAT
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
00:15:44.999 --> 00:15:46.166
TO HAVE TWO CHILDREN.
00:15:46.167 --> 00:15:47.998
WELL, THEN I GUESS
YOU\'D HAVE TO SAY,
00:15:47.999 --> 00:15:50.166
WELL, WITH AN OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE TWO CHILDREN,
00:15:50.167 --> 00:15:54.998
AM I GOING TO MAKE THE VERY BEST
OF THAT TO HAVE GENETICALLY,
00:15:54.999 --> 00:16:00.333
UH, MOST ADVANTAGEOUS
OFFSPRING, OR NOT;
00:16:00.334 --> 00:16:03.459
PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY CORRECT.
00:17:32.709 --> 00:17:35.583
[ NARRATOR ]: TO ENCOURAGE
BREEDING AMONG THE FIT,
00:17:35.584 --> 00:17:38.082
AND DISCOURAGE IT AMONG
THOSE CONSIDERED
00:17:38.083 --> 00:17:40.208
TO BE UNFIT.
00:17:40.209 --> 00:17:43.333
IMPORTED FROM ENGLAND
AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY,
00:17:43.334 --> 00:17:46.249
EUGENIC BELIEFS FIND
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT
00:17:46.250 --> 00:17:48.583
IN NORTH AMERICA.
00:17:48.584 --> 00:17:49.501
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES,
00:17:49.502 --> 00:17:54.375
COUNTY FAIRS PROMOTE THE NEW
SCIENCE OF BETTER BREEDING.
00:17:57.167 --> 00:17:59.708
[ ANNOUNCER ]: THE SAY
THIS CAN\'T BE DONE.
00:17:59.709 --> 00:18:02.541
BUT WE\'RE GOING TO PROVE
TO YOU THAT IT CAN.
00:18:02.542 --> 00:18:05.083
WATCH, HERE THEY COME NOW.
00:18:07.083 --> 00:18:08.458
HERE THEY COME NOW.
00:18:08.459 --> 00:18:10.875
[ NARRATOR ]: AT FAMILY
FITNESS COMPETITIONS,
00:18:10.876 --> 00:18:15.999
CONTESTANTS LINE UP TO WIN
A PLACE AMONG THE GENETIC BEST.
00:18:17.459 --> 00:18:20.998
USING SCIENCE TO SOLVE
SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
00:18:20.999 --> 00:18:25.082
BY THE 1930s, BRITAIN\'S
EUGENICS SOCIETY ATTRACTS
00:18:25.083 --> 00:18:27.501
SUPPORTERS FROM
ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
00:18:29.918 --> 00:18:34.750
WHAT IS THE BEARING OF THE LAWS
OF HEREDITY UPON HUMAN AFFAIRS?
00:18:34.751 --> 00:18:38.791
EUGENICS PROVIDES THE ANSWER,
SO FAR AS THIS IS KNOWN.
00:18:38.792 --> 00:18:42.041
EUGENICS SEEKS TO APPLY
THE KNOWN LAWS OF HEREDITY
00:18:42.042 --> 00:18:44.750
SO AS TO PREVENT THE
DEGENERATION OF THE RACE
00:18:44.751 --> 00:18:47.666
AND IMPROVE ITS
INBORN QUALITIES.
00:18:47.667 --> 00:18:49.998
HERE IS A MAN
WHO, ALTHOUGH NORMAL,
00:18:49.999 --> 00:18:52.750
COMES FROM A MENTALLY
DEFECTIVE FAMILY.
00:18:52.751 --> 00:18:54.750
HERE IS HIS WIFE,
00:18:54.751 --> 00:18:56.041
WHO IS ALSO NORMAL.
00:18:56.042 --> 00:18:57.166
THEY\'VE HAD 17 CHILDREN.
00:18:57.167 --> 00:19:01.124
LET US EXAMINE THE PEDIGREE
OF THESE CHILDREN.
00:19:01.125 --> 00:19:02.917
FIVE OF THEM DIED IN INFANCY.
00:19:02.918 --> 00:19:05.998
THREE ARE STILL TOO YOUNG
FOR AN OPINION TO BE FORMED
00:19:05.999 --> 00:19:08.750
OF THEIR MENTAL STATE...
A BOY AND TWO GIRLS.
00:19:08.751 --> 00:19:11.958
ONLY TWO OF THE REMAINING
CHILDREN ARE NORMAL.
00:19:11.959 --> 00:19:13.791
THE REMAINING SEVEN CHILDREN
00:19:13.792 --> 00:19:16.792
ARE ALL MENTAL DEFECTIVES.
00:19:29.459 --> 00:19:33.166
ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN BORN,
DEFECTIVES ARE HAPPIER
00:19:33.167 --> 00:19:34.998
AND MORE USEFUL
IN THESE INSTITUTIONS
00:19:34.999 --> 00:19:37.917
THAN WHEN AT A LARGE.
00:19:37.918 --> 00:19:39.999
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
BETTER BY FAR,
00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:42.998
FOR THEM AND FOR THE
REST OF THE COMMUNITY,
00:19:42.999 --> 00:19:45.292
IF THEY HAD NEVER BEEN BORN.
00:19:45.999 --> 00:19:49.998
[ NARRATOR ]: EUGENIC
BELIEF BECOMES SO WIDESPREAD
00:19:49.999 --> 00:19:52.708
THAT AMERICAN AND CANADIAN
GOVERNMENTS ENACT
00:19:52.709 --> 00:19:55.125
FORCED STERILIZATION LAWS.
00:19:56.459 --> 00:20:01.998
IN 1928, ALBERTA PASSES
THE SEXUAL STERILIZATION ACT.
00:20:01.999 --> 00:20:04.998
THE BRITISH COLUMBIA LAW
AUTHORIZES THE STERILIZATION
00:20:04.999 --> 00:20:09.374
OF ANY INSTITUTIONALIZED
PERSON WHO MIGHT BEAR
00:20:09.375 --> 00:20:12.541
A MENTALLY DEFICIENT CHILD.
00:20:12.542 --> 00:20:16.750
THE B.C. ACT PASSES IN 1933,
00:20:16.751 --> 00:20:18.374
THE SAME YEAR
NAZI GERMANY BEGINS
00:20:18.375 --> 00:20:19.666
ITS RACIAL HYGIENE PROGRAM,
00:20:19.667 --> 00:20:22.998
A PROGRAM THAT LEADS
TO THE EXTERMINATION
00:20:22.999 --> 00:20:26.918
OF MILLIONS OF HUMAN BEINGS.
00:20:36.542 --> 00:20:43.082
IN THE PRESENT CONTEXT, UH,
EUGENICS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
00:20:43.083 --> 00:20:46.998
IN FACT, SOME PEOPLE CLAIM
THAT IT ISN\'T EUGENICS AT ALL,
00:20:46.999 --> 00:20:50.998
BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT\'S ONLY
EUGENICS IF IT\'S COMPULSORY.
00:20:50.999 --> 00:20:55.041
AND IN THE PRESENT CONTEXT
IT\'S NOT COMPULSORY
00:20:55.042 --> 00:20:58.958
IN THE SENSE THAT NOBODY
IS FORCED TO ENGAGE
00:20:58.959 --> 00:21:05.124
IN PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, UH,
OR TO ACT ON IT BY ABORTING
00:21:05.125 --> 00:21:10.541
CERTAIN FETUSES THAT ARE
THOUGHT TO BE, UH...
00:21:10.542 --> 00:21:14.750
SUCH THAT THEY SHOULDN\'T BE
ALIVE, UH, IN THE WORLD.
00:21:14.751 --> 00:21:21.998
UH, BUT IT\'S, IT\'S, UH, IT\'S
REALLY A MUCH MORE COMPLICATED
00:21:21.999 --> 00:21:23.998
QUESTION BECAUSE, FOR ONE THING,
00:21:23.999 --> 00:21:26.458
THE QUESTION IS
WHO SETS THE AGENDA?
00:21:26.459 --> 00:21:28.875
I MEAN, WHO MAKES THE DECISIONS
00:21:28.876 --> 00:21:30.999
ABOUT WHAT TECHNIQUES
TO DEVELOP?
00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:38.998
TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, THESE
DECISIONS ARE MADE NOT BY PEOPLE
00:21:38.999 --> 00:21:44.166
THEMSELVES WHO ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT CERTAIN DISEASES,
00:21:44.167 --> 00:21:46.998
BUT BY WHAT TECHNOLOGIES
BECOME AVAILABLE,
00:21:46.999 --> 00:21:52.833
WHAT THINGS WE CAN TEST FOR,
AND THEN THE MOMENT WE CAN TEST
00:21:52.834 --> 00:21:54.998
FOR SOMETHING, IT IS OUT THERE
00:21:54.999 --> 00:21:57.291
AND BECOMES SOMETHING
TO BE AVOIDED.
00:21:57.292 --> 00:22:00.124
BUT, YOU SEE, YOU TAKE PERHAPS
THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE
00:22:00.125 --> 00:22:02.998
THAT I\'VE BEEN INVOLVED
WITH, WHICH IS THE SEXING
00:22:02.999 --> 00:22:05.249
OF THE HUMAN EMBRYO,
THAT IS TO SAY
00:22:05.250 --> 00:22:08.708
THAT WE WOULD REPLACE
EMBRYOS OF A SPECIFIC SEX.
00:22:08.709 --> 00:22:10.998
NOW, AT ONE LEVEL THAT SOUNDS
TERRIBLY THREATENING.
00:22:10.999 --> 00:22:13.999
BUT IF YOU PUT IT IN THE CONTEXT
OF IN VITRO FERTILIZATION
00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:17.998
IN BRITAIN, A TOTAL
OF 8,000 BABIES HAVE BEEN BORN
00:22:17.999 --> 00:22:20.208
SINCE LOUISE BROWN,
SINCE THE FIRST BABY.
00:22:20.209 --> 00:22:23.708
SUPPOSING ALL THOSE BABIES HAD
BEEN BOYS, IT ACTUALLY WOULDN\'T
00:22:23.709 --> 00:22:26.999
HAVE MADE ANY FUNDAMENTAL
DIFFERENCE TO OUR SOCIETY.
00:23:09.999 --> 00:23:13.750
I WAS BORN IN 1951
WITH SPINA BIFIDA.
00:23:13.751 --> 00:23:17.917
UH, SPINA BIFIDA
IS A BIRTH CONDITION
00:23:17.918 --> 00:23:22.458
THAT, UH, AFFECTS
THE MATURATION OF THE SPINE
00:23:22.459 --> 00:23:24.998
IN ABOUT THE FIRST
MONTH OF GESTATION.
00:23:24.999 --> 00:23:28.750
THE FETUS\' SPINE DOESN\'T CLOSE,
DOESN\'T DEVELOP NORMALLY.
00:23:28.751 --> 00:23:32.374
SPINA BIFIDA MEANS DOUBLES,
OR DIVIDED SPINE, BI.
00:23:32.375 --> 00:23:37.082
AND, UH, THE EFFECT FOR ME WAS
THAT I HAVE WEAKNESS IN MY LOWER
00:23:37.083 --> 00:23:40.875
LEGS AND I HAVE WHAT\'S CALLED
A NEUROGENIC BLADDER,
00:23:40.876 --> 00:23:42.249
WHICH MEANS I CAN\'T PEE.
00:23:42.250 --> 00:23:44.998
I HAVE TO USE A CATHETER
TO EMPTY MY BLADDER.
00:23:44.999 --> 00:23:51.999
AND, UH, WHEN I WAS BORN IN 1951
THERE WERE NO PRENATAL TESTS
00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:55.583
AVAILABLE TO MOTHERS,
TO FAMILIES.
00:23:55.584 --> 00:24:00.500
AND I\'VE TALKED TO MY MOTHER
ABOUT IT, AND SHE HAS ASSURED ME
00:24:00.501 --> 00:24:03.041
THAT IF PRENATAL TESTING
HAD BEEN AVAILABLE,
00:24:03.042 --> 00:24:04.998
SHE WOULD NOT HAVE ABORTED ME.
00:24:04.999 --> 00:24:05.751
[ NARRATOR ]: THE WOMEN IN
00:24:05.752 --> 00:24:08.249
KEEP A CLOSE EYE
00:24:08.250 --> 00:24:13.166
ON DEVELOPMENTS IN THE
NEW GENETIC TECHNOLOGY.
00:24:13.167 --> 00:24:14.998
ALL OF THEM ARE DISABLED.
00:24:14.999 --> 00:24:18.416
I HAVE A RARE
NEUROLOGICAL
00:24:18.417 --> 00:24:21.998
DISORDER CALLED
WERDNIG-HOFFMANN\'S DISEASE.
00:24:21.999 --> 00:24:28.625
AND ORIGINALLY THEY SAID THAT,
UH, MY LIFE EXPECTANCY WAS 2.
00:24:28.626 --> 00:24:30.666
AND THEN THEY SAID 2 TO 5.
00:24:30.667 --> 00:24:31.626
AND I\'M 43.
00:24:31.627 --> 00:24:37.708
AND WITH TECHNOLOGY
AND WITH ATTENDANT CARE
00:24:37.709 --> 00:24:42.291
AND WITH THE MASTER\'S DEGREE,
I AM AN ART THERAPIST.
00:24:42.292 --> 00:24:46.333
I\'M A WRITER; I\'M HOPEFULLY
SOON PUBLISHING A BOOK.
00:24:46.334 --> 00:24:49.541
I HAVE SOLD ARTWORK.
00:24:49.542 --> 00:24:51.833
I\'VE DONE A LOT OF
THINGS WITH MY LIFE,
00:24:51.834 --> 00:24:55.583
AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY,
UM, SEVERAL NEUROLOGISTS
00:24:55.584 --> 00:24:59.958
THAT THIS PARTICULAR
DISEASE SEEMS TO CARRY
00:24:59.959 --> 00:25:03.458
A HIGH IQ WITH IT
WHICH WAS KIND OF ODD.
00:25:03.459 --> 00:25:04.998
AT FIRST I THOUGHT
THEY WERE KIDDING.
00:25:04.999 --> 00:25:09.082
BUT, UM, SEVERAL DOCTORS IN
DIFFERENT STATES HAVE SAID THAT.
00:25:09.083 --> 00:25:12.583
AND IN THE SAME BREATH
THEY ARE TELLING ME
00:25:12.584 --> 00:25:15.666
THAT, UM, THEY\'D
LIKE ME TO PARTICIPATE
00:25:15.667 --> 00:25:18.998
IN SOME EXPERIMENTS
THAT THEY\'RE DOING TO...
00:25:18.999 --> 00:25:21.416
ALL I HAVE TO DO
IS TO GIVE SOME BLOOD,
00:25:21.417 --> 00:25:23.998
BECAUSE THEY\'RE TRYING
TO ISOLATE THE GENE
00:25:23.999 --> 00:25:27.208
SO THAT THEY CAN
GENETICALLY SCREEN OUT,
00:25:27.209 --> 00:25:30.458
SO THAT NO ONE ELSE
WILL BE BORN LIKE ME.
00:25:30.459 --> 00:25:32.708
AND I DON\'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
00:25:32.709 --> 00:25:36.541
UM, I\'M VERY HAPPY WITH MY LIFE.
00:25:36.542 --> 00:25:39.833
AND IT ANGERS ME.
00:25:39.834 --> 00:25:41.998
SO I REFUSED MANY TIMES.
00:25:41.999 --> 00:25:48.041
AND I GUESS I\'M SEEN AS SELFISH,
BUT, UM, I CANNOT,
00:25:48.042 --> 00:25:49.416
WITH ALL CONSCIENCE,
00:25:49.417 --> 00:25:54.208
CONTRIBUTE TO THE ELIMINATION
OF PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF.
00:25:54.209 --> 00:25:58.208
SO IT RAISES A LOT
OF QUESTIONS FOR ME.
00:25:58.209 --> 00:26:01.998
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
WOMEN HAVE CHOICE,
00:26:01.999 --> 00:26:05.249
BUT I DON\'T THINK
THAT THEY\'RE GETTING CHOICE,
00:26:05.250 --> 00:26:10.333
BECAUSE WE\'RE NOT BEING
ASKED TO COUNSEL WOMEN
00:26:10.334 --> 00:26:15.917
OR COUPLES OR FAMILIES ABOUT
HOW TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
00:26:15.918 --> 00:26:18.291
AND WE, THOSE OF
US WITH DISABILITIES,
00:26:18.292 --> 00:26:22.416
I THINK THEY\'RE THE ONLY ONES
THAT HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
00:26:22.417 --> 00:26:27.500
I THINK ELIMINATING DISABILITY
IS AN IRRATIONAL GOAL.
00:26:27.501 --> 00:26:30.998
THERE\'S ONLY A SMALL
PERCENTAGE OF DISABILITIES
00:26:30.999 --> 00:26:35.416
THAT RESULT FROM BIRTH
CONDITIONS, AND I THINK...
00:26:35.417 --> 00:26:39.041
I MEAN, A STATISTIC THAT I
REMEMBER FROM THE HARRIS POLL
00:26:39.042 --> 00:26:46.583
IS THAT ONLY 13% OF DISABILITIES
OCCUR BEFORE ADOLESCENCE,
00:26:46.584 --> 00:26:49.041
SO EVEN A SMALLER
PERCENTAGE OCCUR FROM BIRTH.
00:26:49.042 --> 00:26:52.625
UM, THE VAST MAJORITY OF
DISABILITIES ARE A RESULT
00:26:52.626 --> 00:26:56.666
OF ACCIDENTS,
OF DISEASE AND ILLNESS
00:26:56.667 --> 00:26:59.999
THAT OCCURS LATER,
MUCH LATER IN LIFE.
00:27:00.876 --> 00:27:03.998
[ NARRATOR ]: IN THE 1980s,
A GROUP OF DISABLED PEOPLE
00:27:03.999 --> 00:27:06.998
IN GERMANY GOT THEIR HANDS
ON AN OLD FARMHOUSE.
00:27:06.999 --> 00:27:10.876
THEY RENOVATED IT
AND TURNED IT INTO A CAFE.
00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:14.999
THIS CAFE REPRESENTS THE HEART
OF THE AUTONOMY MOVEMENT,
00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:18.917
A WAY FOR THE DISABLED
TO MOVE OUT OF CLOSED WORKSHOPS
00:27:18.918 --> 00:27:20.998
AND INTO THE COMMUNITY.
00:27:20.999 --> 00:27:23.167
[ SPEAKING
GERMAN ]
00:27:40.542 --> 00:27:41.958
SOME ARE STUDENTS.
00:27:41.959 --> 00:27:45.042
OTHERS WORK HERE FULL TIME.
00:27:46.250 --> 00:27:49.249
DISABLED DURING MINOR
SURGERY AS A CHILD,
00:27:49.250 --> 00:27:55.000
UDO SIERK IS A HISTORIAN AND ONE
OF THE CAFE\'S FOUNDING MEMBERS.
00:27:56.999 --> 00:27:59.125
[ SPEAKING GERMAN ]
00:29:06.834 --> 00:29:12.625
THESE NEW PRENATAL
TECHNOLOGIES, UH,
00:29:12.626 --> 00:29:20.041
AND THE TECHNOLOGIES, THE NEW
TECHNOLOGIES OF CONCEPTION
00:29:20.042 --> 00:29:26.333
ALSO CARRY WITH THEM
A CERTAIN WAY OF LOOKING
00:29:26.334 --> 00:29:29.041
AT CHILDREN AS COMMODITIES
00:29:29.042 --> 00:29:33.500
WHERE THE PRENATAL
TECHNOLOGIES THEN BECOME
00:29:33.501 --> 00:29:36.500
MECHANISMS OF QUALITY CONTROL,
00:29:36.501 --> 00:29:39.666
UH, WHICH REALLY
RATHER TRANSFORMS,
00:29:39.667 --> 00:29:42.708
CHANGES OUR WAY OF
LOOKING AT PROCREATION,
00:29:42.709 --> 00:29:46.918
LOOKING AT CHILDREN,
LOOKING AT HUMAN BEINGS.
00:29:51.999 --> 00:29:53.791
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT,
00:29:53.792 --> 00:29:55.998
THERE\'S VERY SOMETHING
IRONIC ABOUT THAT,
00:29:55.999 --> 00:30:03.208
UM, AT A TIME LIKE RIGHT NOW
WHERE, UM, INFANT MORTALITY,
00:30:03.209 --> 00:30:07.958
DISEASES AMONG
NEWBORNS AND CHILDREN,
00:30:07.959 --> 00:30:09.875
IF ANYTHING ARE INCREASING
00:30:09.876 --> 00:30:14.166
AND INCREASING FOR THE OBVIOUS
REASONS OF SOCIAL DECAY:
00:30:14.167 --> 00:30:19.998
UH, POVERTY, UH,
WOMEN BEING MALNOURISHED
00:30:19.999 --> 00:30:22.291
BOTH BEFORE AND
DURING PREGNANCY,
00:30:22.292 --> 00:30:25.999
GETTING NO PRENATAL,
UH, CARE AND SO ON.
00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:29.333
I MEAN, IN THIS COUNTRY,
INDEED IN THIS VERY CITY,
00:30:29.334 --> 00:30:33.998
THERE\'S A THREE TIMES AS HIGH
00:30:33.999 --> 00:30:37.583
INFANT MORTALITY OF BLACK
INFANTS AS OF WHITE INFANTS.
00:30:37.584 --> 00:30:40.666
AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH THEIR GENETICS,
00:30:40.667 --> 00:30:45.416
WITH THINGS THAT THESE PRENATAL
TECHNOLOGIES ADDRESS.
00:30:45.417 --> 00:30:47.041
THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE ECONOMIC
00:30:47.042 --> 00:30:50.958
AND SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THE WOMEN\'S LIVES.
00:30:50.959 --> 00:30:55.249
AND AT A TIME OF THIS KIND
OF INCREASING SOCIAL DECAY,
00:30:55.250 --> 00:30:59.082
TO BE FOCUSING THAT MUCH
ON QUALITY CONTROL
00:30:59.083 --> 00:31:03.999
FOR RELATIVELY RARE DISEASES
AND SPENDING MONEY ON THIS
00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:07.041
AND FOCUSING OUR
ATTENTION ON THIS,
00:31:07.042 --> 00:31:13.750
SEEMS EXTREMELY
INAPPROPRIATE AND DANGEROUS.
00:31:13.751 --> 00:31:15.792
[ SPEAKING FRENCH ]
00:32:00.542 --> 00:32:04.998
WHEN I FIRST STARTED
DOING SCIENCE,
00:32:04.999 --> 00:32:08.998
I WAS COMPLETELY
HOOKED ON THE SORT OF
00:32:08.999 --> 00:32:12.998
MYTH OF SCIENCE
AS BEING OBJECTIVE,
00:32:12.999 --> 00:32:16.166
AND OF COURSE ISSUES
OF GENDER AND CLASS AND RACE
00:32:16.167 --> 00:32:18.999
AND THINGS LIKE THAT
NOT GETTING INTO IT AT ALL,
00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:20.666
THAT WHOEVER THE SCIENTIST IS,
00:32:20.667 --> 00:32:23.583
THEY\'RE GOING TO COME OUT
WITH THE SAME ANSWERS.
00:32:23.584 --> 00:32:26.041
AND IT TOOK ME A CONSIDERABLE
LENGTH OF TIME
00:32:26.042 --> 00:32:28.999
TO REALIZE THAT
THAT SIMPLY ISN\'T TRUE.
00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:32.333
AND I THINK IT WASN\'T
JUST ME BY MYSELF.
00:32:32.334 --> 00:32:34.416
IT WAS THE FACT OF
THE WOMEN\'S MOVEMENT.
00:32:34.417 --> 00:32:36.416
IT WAS THE FACT
OF THE VIETNAM WAR.
00:32:36.417 --> 00:32:41.500
IT WAS A WHOLE SERIES OF OTHER
PEOPLE AND FORCES THAT MADE IT
00:32:41.501 --> 00:32:46.124
QUITE CLEAR THAT SCIENCE WAS
BEING DONE IN THE INTEREST
00:32:46.125 --> 00:32:50.208
OF CERTAIN KINDS OF PEOPLE,
OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAD POWER,
00:32:50.209 --> 00:32:54.124
AND THAT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ARE QUITE INSEPARABLE,
00:32:54.125 --> 00:32:57.666
THAT IT ISN\'T JUST ASKING
QUESTIONS IN THE ABSTRACT
00:32:57.667 --> 00:33:00.875
BUT THAT IT IS ASKING
QUESTIONS THAT ARE USEFUL,
00:33:00.876 --> 00:33:05.998
THAT ARE USEFUL IN TERMS
OF MAKING TECHNOLOGY, UM,
00:33:05.999 --> 00:33:08.124
AND USEFUL TO
THE PEOPLE IN CONTROL.
00:33:08.125 --> 00:33:14.666
UH, SO THAT I BECAME AWARE OF
THE FACT THAT AS A WOMAN, UM,
00:33:14.667 --> 00:33:18.998
I HAD BEEN SOCIALIZED
TO THINK OF MYSELF
00:33:18.999 --> 00:33:21.998
AS A MAN WHILE
I WAS DOING SCIENCE,
00:33:21.999 --> 00:33:25.666
AND THAT ONCE I BEGAN
TO REALIZE THAT I WASN\'T A MAN,
00:33:25.667 --> 00:33:27.875
THAT I IN FACT WAS A WOMAN, UM,
00:33:27.876 --> 00:33:31.291
AND BEGAN TO ASK, WELL, WHAT
KINDS OF DIFFERENT QUESTIONS
00:33:31.292 --> 00:33:32.292
WOULD I WANT TO ASK
00:33:32.293 --> 00:33:34.999
AND HOW WOULD I WANT
TO ASK THEM DIFFERENTLY...
00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:39.791
IT TOOK THAT KIND OF
REORIENTATION TO UNDERSTAND
00:33:39.792 --> 00:33:46.917
THAT WOMEN AND NATURE IN FACT
WERE BEING TAKEN APART
00:33:46.918 --> 00:33:48.666
BY SCIENCE INTO LITTLE BITS,
00:33:48.667 --> 00:33:53.082
AND THAT IT GAVE US
A VERY PARTICULAR VIEW OF...
00:33:53.083 --> 00:33:55.998
BIOLOGY GAVE US A VERY
PARTICULAR VIEW OF ORGANISMS
00:33:55.999 --> 00:33:59.541
AS MACHINES THAT COULD BE
UNDERSTOOD BEST
00:33:59.542 --> 00:34:02.458
BY TAKING THEM APART
INTO LITTLE BITS.
00:34:02.459 --> 00:34:04.208
AND THE GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES ARE
00:34:04.209 --> 00:34:07.458
JUST SORT OF ONE
EXTREME EXAMPLE OF THAT,
00:34:07.459 --> 00:34:12.374
LOOKING AT GENES AS
THE ANSWER TO QUESTIONS
00:34:12.375 --> 00:34:15.333
ABOUT HOW ORGANISMS,
WHOLE ORGANISMS,
00:34:15.334 --> 00:34:19.125
IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTS
AND SO ON, WORK.
00:34:22.751 --> 00:34:24.249
[ NARRATOR ]: THE MEDIA PROMOTE
00:34:24.250 --> 00:34:26.208
THE SCIENTIFIC VIEW @ WHAT
00:34:26.209 --> 00:34:28.709
IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN.
00:34:35.999 --> 00:34:37.998
[ TV ANNOUNCER ]:
WILL HE BE A MUSICIAN,
00:34:37.999 --> 00:34:39.998
AN ATHLETE, SHORT OR TALL?
00:34:39.999 --> 00:34:43.166
IN MANY WAYS, HIS FUTURE
IS ALREADY MAPPED OUT.
00:34:43.167 --> 00:34:45.583
THE DIRECTIONS ARE IN HIS GENES.
00:34:45.584 --> 00:34:47.998
EACH HUMAN INHERITS
WHAT\'S CALLED A GENOME...
00:34:47.999 --> 00:34:52.625
23 PAIRS OF CHROMOSOMES WHICH
CONTAIN ABOUT 100,000 GENES,
00:34:52.626 --> 00:34:56.208
SECTIONS OF DNA THAT ARE
THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING
00:34:56.209 --> 00:34:57.000
A HUMAN BEING.
00:34:57.001 --> 00:35:01.999
[ NARRATOR ]: SO FAR,
ONLY 2,000 HAVE BEEN LOCATED.
00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:03.791
THE REST WILL BE MAPPED
00:35:03.792 --> 00:35:05.625
BY THE HUMAN GENOME PROJECT,
00:35:05.626 --> 00:35:08.666
A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR
GLOBAL INTIATIVE.
00:35:08.667 --> 00:35:12.458
AMONG THE RESEARCH CENTRES
INVOLVED IS LOS ALAMOS,
00:35:12.459 --> 00:35:16.083
TEST SITE FOR
THE FIRST NUCLEAR BOMB.
00:35:25.792 --> 00:35:32.583
WELL, THE GENOME PROJECT OF
COURSE FITS INTO A LOT OF THINGS
00:35:32.584 --> 00:35:35.625
THAT ARE GOING ON
IN SOCIETY RIGHT NOW.
00:35:35.626 --> 00:35:41.999
FOR ONE THING, IT, UH,
LOOKING AT A PERSON\'S GENES
00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:46.998
AS THE ANSWER TO THEIR
HEALTH PROBLEMS
00:35:46.999 --> 00:35:51.124
OR THEIR SOCIAL PROBLEMS,
THEIR MENTAL PROBLEMS,
00:35:51.125 --> 00:35:55.998
TOTALLY INDIVIDUALIZES
WHAT\'S GOING ON.
00:35:55.999 --> 00:35:59.166
AND THAT IS ALWAYS
A VERY CONVENIENT THING
00:35:59.167 --> 00:36:01.333
TO DO IN A CONSERVATIVE TIME.
00:36:01.334 --> 00:36:03.249
AND WE ARE IN
A CONSERVATIVE TIME.
00:36:03.250 --> 00:36:07.833
TO SAY THAT, UH, YOU HAVE...
YOU\'RE GETTING CANCER
00:36:07.834 --> 00:36:09.917
OR YOU\'RE GETTING
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
00:36:09.918 --> 00:36:13.791
NOT BECAUSE OF THINGS
THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND YOU,
00:36:13.792 --> 00:36:15.875
NOT BECAUSE OF THINGS
IN THE ENVIRONMENT
00:36:15.876 --> 00:36:19.374
OR BECAUSE OF THE STRESSES
AND STRAINS IN YOUR LIFE,
00:36:19.375 --> 00:36:22.000
BUT BECAUSE IT\'S IN YOUR GENES.
00:36:28.626 --> 00:36:33.541
[ COMPUTER ]:
T, C, C, M, H, N, A,
00:36:33.542 --> 00:36:34.998
A, G...
00:36:34.999 --> 00:36:37.998
[ NARRATOR ]:
GENETICISTS CALL IT
00:36:37.999 --> 00:36:38.999
THE BOOK OF LIFE,
00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:41.998
NUMBERS AND LETTERS
THAT PINPOINT THE LOCATION
00:36:41.999 --> 00:36:44.000
OF GENES.
00:36:45.042 --> 00:36:47.998
FINDING OUT WHAT A GENE
DOES IS ANOTHER MATTER.
00:36:47.999 --> 00:36:51.998
TO IDENTIFY A PERSON\'S
GENETIC PREDISPOSITIONS,
00:36:51.999 --> 00:36:53.917
SCIENTISTS ARE
DEVELOPING TECHNIQUES
00:36:53.918 --> 00:36:56.708
THAT WILL HAVE BROAD
COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS.
00:36:56.709 --> 00:37:02.583
[ COMPUTER ]:
T, G, G, G, C, T, C.
00:37:02.584 --> 00:37:05.998
INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENTS AND
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
00:37:05.999 --> 00:37:09.249
ARE PUTTING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF MONEY INTO THIS RESEARCH.
00:37:09.250 --> 00:37:12.416
AND THEY HAVE TO GET
A RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT.
00:37:12.417 --> 00:37:16.708
JUST TO GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE
IN THE AREA OF HUMAN GENETICS,
00:37:16.709 --> 00:37:18.998
THERE HAVE BEEN
ESTIMATES THAT BY 1995
00:37:18.999 --> 00:37:21.791
WE WILL ALREADY HAVE A MARKET
IN THE UNITED STATES
00:37:21.792 --> 00:37:26.998
OF ABOUT $6 BILLION U.S. FOR
GENE MARKERS AND GENE PROBES.
00:37:26.999 --> 00:37:31.998
NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATUS
OF RESEARCH IN THIS AREA,
00:37:31.999 --> 00:37:35.833
OF DEVELOPING SUCH PROBES,
IT\'S CLEAR THAT IN MANY AREAS,
00:37:35.834 --> 00:37:38.998
THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS
OF THESE TECHNIQUES
00:37:38.999 --> 00:37:40.208
IS ACTUALLY VERY THIN.
00:37:40.209 --> 00:37:42.833
THEY\'RE STANDING
ON VERY SHAKY LEGS.
00:37:42.834 --> 00:37:45.583
NONETHELESS, I\'M
WORRIED ABOUT THE FACT
00:37:45.584 --> 00:37:49.791
THAT IT WILL BE USED
FOR GENETIC SCREENING
00:37:49.792 --> 00:37:52.998
AND PERHAPS EVEN ON A
LARGE-SCALE POPULATION BASIS
00:37:52.999 --> 00:37:55.416
LONG BEFORE THERE\'S ANY KIND OF
00:37:55.417 --> 00:37:56.999
A GOOD SCIENTIFIC
FOUNDATION FOR THAT.
00:37:57.000 --> 00:38:00.666
I\'M SUGGESTING THAT WE SHOULD BE
VERY CAREFUL ABOUT MAKING SURE
00:38:00.667 --> 00:38:05.166
THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT
OF HAVING ALL THIS INFORMATION,
00:38:05.167 --> 00:38:09.500
AND THAT WE DO MAKE SURE
THAT DECISIONS ARE MADE BY
00:38:09.501 --> 00:38:13.416
THE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND ARE NOT
MADE BY INSURANCE COMPANIES,
00:38:13.417 --> 00:38:16.998
EMPLOYERS AND OTHER PEOPLE
WHO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST
00:38:16.999 --> 00:38:18.999
IN THE HEALTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:21.541
[ NARRATOR ]:
IT\'S ALREADY HAPPENING.
00:38:21.542 --> 00:38:24.124
IN 1990, AN INSURANCE COMPANY
00:38:24.125 --> 00:38:25.416
REFUSES TO COVER A 2-YEAR-OLD
00:38:25.417 --> 00:38:30.959
DIAGNOSED WITH THE GENE FOR
POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE.
00:38:33.792 --> 00:38:36.998
A WOMAN CARRYING A BABY
WITH THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS GENE
00:38:36.999 --> 00:38:41.375
IS TOLD THAT HER HEALTH
INSURANCE WON\'T COVER HER CHILD.
00:38:42.834 --> 00:38:44.625
IT\'S MUCH EASIER
TO DEVELOP TESTS,
00:38:44.626 --> 00:38:47.998
AND THERE ARE MUCH
GREATER PROFITS IN TESTING,
00:38:47.999 --> 00:38:49.791
SCREENING LARGE POPULATIONS,
00:38:49.792 --> 00:38:55.333
THAN IN TREATING THE FEW
PEOPLE WHO NEED THERAPEUTICS.
00:38:55.334 --> 00:38:56.750
SO TESTING IS BIG BUSINESS.
00:38:56.751 --> 00:38:59.625
[ NARRATOR ]: THE BUSINESS
IS CALLED BIOTECHNOLOGY.
00:38:59.626 --> 00:39:03.666
HUNDREDS OF COMPANIES WORLDWIDE
DEVELOP GENETICALLY ENGINEERED
00:39:03.667 --> 00:39:06.208
PLANTS, ANIMALS AND DRUGS;
00:39:06.209 --> 00:39:09.458
TRANSFERRING GENES
FROM HUMANS TO ANIMALS;
00:39:09.459 --> 00:39:13.333
PATENTING NEW LIFE FORMS;
00:39:13.334 --> 00:39:15.999
PATENTING HUMAN GENES.
00:39:17.626 --> 00:39:21.999
VIRTUALLY ANY LIFE FORM COULD
BECOME THE PRIVATE PROPERTY
00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:23.998
OF THE COMPANY THAT CREATES IT.
00:39:23.999 --> 00:39:26.998
AT THE MOMENT, THERE ARE
VERY FEW RESTRICTIONS
00:39:26.999 --> 00:39:30.999
ON THE COMMERCIAL INTERESTS
THAT DRIVE THE INDUSTRY.
00:39:31.918 --> 00:39:37.999
CANADA IS A WORLD LEADER IN
AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY.
00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:40.416
IN THE EVER-INCREASING EMPHASIS
00:39:40.417 --> 00:39:46.666
TO PRODUCE EFFICIENT
LEAN MEAT OR MORE BETTER MILK,
00:39:46.667 --> 00:39:48.291
ANIMAL BREEDERS AROUND THE WORLD
00:39:48.292 --> 00:39:50.541
ARE LOOKING AT THIS
VERY TOP OF THE PYRAMID.
00:39:50.542 --> 00:39:54.124
AND THOSE ARE THOSE FEW ANIMALS
THAT ARE THE GENETIC BEST.
00:39:54.125 --> 00:39:58.500
AND THE DEMAND IS WORLDWIDE
FOR THOSE VERY BEST ANIMALS.
00:39:58.501 --> 00:40:00.999
[ MOOING ]
00:40:01.999 --> 00:40:08.458
TODAY, THIS IS REALLY
AN ENGINEERING, UM, METHOD.
00:40:08.459 --> 00:40:10.041
IT\'S REALLY ABOUT CONSTRUCTING
00:40:10.042 --> 00:40:12.875
SOMETHING THAT DOESN\'T
EXIST IN NATURE.
00:40:12.876 --> 00:40:14.291
AND IT\'S ABOUT
CONSTRUCTING SOMETHING
00:40:14.292 --> 00:40:19.541
THAT DOESN\'T HAVE
ANY VALUE OF ITSELF.
00:40:19.542 --> 00:40:21.625
THE WHOLE QUESTION OF THE VALUE
00:40:21.626 --> 00:40:24.998
OF LIVING ORGANISMS ON
THEIR OWN IS NEVER PUT.
00:40:24.999 --> 00:40:29.750
IT\'S ONLY THE OBJECTIVE OF
SERVING THE NEEDS OF INDUSTRY
00:40:29.751 --> 00:40:31.998
THAT IS AT THE
VERY TOP PRIORITY.
00:40:31.999 --> 00:40:35.208
[ NARRATOR ]: BIOTECH
SCIENTISTS INJECTED THE EMBRYOS
00:40:35.209 --> 00:40:38.917
OF THESE PIGS WITH THE GENE
FOR HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE.
00:40:38.918 --> 00:40:41.998
THEY WOUND UP WITH
BIGGER, LEANER ANIMALS
00:40:41.999 --> 00:40:45.750
THAT DEVELOPED GASTRIC
ULCERS AND ARTHRITIS.
00:40:45.751 --> 00:40:50.998
WHAT WE DON\'T OFTEN CONSIDER
IS THAT THE MORE HEAVILY
00:40:50.999 --> 00:40:54.833
WE SELECT FOR
A PARTICULAR TRAIT, UH,
00:40:54.834 --> 00:40:57.998
WE ARE ALSO AT THE SAME TIME
00:40:57.999 --> 00:41:00.541
COUNTER-SELECTING
FOR OTHER TRAITS.
00:41:00.542 --> 00:41:06.958
AND WE DON\'T REALLY HAVE
A WAY OF MEASURING THAT,
00:41:06.959 --> 00:41:09.708
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT BECOMES, UM,
00:41:09.709 --> 00:41:14.998
OF THE NATURE OF TRAITS
LIKE DISEASE RESISTANCE,
00:41:14.999 --> 00:41:17.998
MOTHERING ABILITY,
FORAGING ABILITY.
00:41:17.999 --> 00:41:21.917
UM, WE DON\'T OFTEN HAVE A WAY
OF EVEN MEASURING THOSE TRAITS,
00:41:21.918 --> 00:41:24.791
BECAUSE WE DON\'T LOOK AT THOSE
TRAITS IN AN ECONOMIC SENSE.
00:41:24.792 --> 00:41:26.999
AND SO WE HAVEN\'T DEVELOPED
THE TOOLS TO DO THAT.
00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:32.666
UH, AND SO WE DON\'T KNOW WHAT
WE\'RE LOSING IN THAT SENSE.
00:41:32.667 --> 00:41:36.500
THE ANIMALS WON\'T SURVIVE
WITH THAT KIND OF SYSTEN.
00:41:36.501 --> 00:41:37.750
THEY AREN\'T MACHINES
00:41:37.751 --> 00:41:40.958
TO PRODUCE MILK
AND MEAT OR PRODUCTS.
00:41:40.959 --> 00:41:42.791
UH, THAT THEY
ARE LIVING ENTITIES
00:41:42.792 --> 00:41:44.166
THAT WE HAVE TO RESPECT
00:41:44.167 --> 00:41:47.501
AND NURTURE AND WORK WITH.
00:41:48.459 --> 00:41:51.917
[ NARRATOR ]: 20 YEARS AGO,
YOU\'D FIND OVER 60 BREEDS
00:41:51.918 --> 00:41:54.666
OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ON CANADIAN FARMS.
00:41:54.667 --> 00:41:58.501
NOW YOU\'D FIND ONLY 10 TO 12.
00:42:05.209 --> 00:42:07.998
AT JOYWIND FARM, JY CHIPERSAK
00:42:07.999 --> 00:42:11.792
PROTECTS DOMESTIC
ANIMALS FROM EXTINCTION.
00:42:20.375 --> 00:42:21.750
WHEN WE GET INTO THE WHOLE
00:42:21.751 --> 00:42:23.333
APPLICATION OF
THESE TECHNOLOGIES...
00:42:23.334 --> 00:42:26.249
ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT WE
DON\'T REALLY UNDERSTAND YET...
00:42:26.250 --> 00:42:28.750
WE DON\'T, UH, REALLY UNDERSTAND
00:42:28.751 --> 00:42:31.333
HOW CERTAIN GENES
MASK OTHER GENES.
00:42:31.334 --> 00:42:34.333
WE DON\'T KNOW HOW
TO DO THE GENE SPLICING
00:42:34.334 --> 00:42:38.124
THAT WE TALK ABOUT
IN ANY, UH, SPECIFIC SENSE.
00:42:38.125 --> 00:42:41.958
I MEAN, MOST OF WHAT WE\'VE DONE
HAS BEEN PRETTY RANDOM,
00:42:41.959 --> 00:42:43.166
WHEN WE\'VE DONE, UM,
00:42:43.167 --> 00:42:45.833
THE INTERCHANGE OF DNA
AND TRANSGENICS.
00:42:45.834 --> 00:42:52.166
AND IF WE START THEN USING THAT
TECHNOLOGY AND APPLY IT TO MAN
00:42:52.167 --> 00:42:55.291
IN THAT RANDOM SENSE,
WE DON\'T KNOW WHAT WE\'RE DOING.
00:42:55.292 --> 00:42:58.709
AND WE THEREFORE DON\'T
KNOW WHAT THE RESULTS ARE.
00:42:59.167 --> 00:43:05.166
ANOTHER REALLY DANGEROUS
ELEMENT ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY
00:43:05.167 --> 00:43:10.917
IS REALLY THE BEGINNING
OF TRYING TO DO GENETIC
00:43:10.918 --> 00:43:15.998
ENGINEERING ON EMBRYOS,
WHICH BY DEFINITION MEANS
00:43:15.999 --> 00:43:19.875
WHAT IS CALLED GERM-LINE
GENETIC ENGINEERING.
00:43:19.876 --> 00:43:24.998
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT
BY CHANGING THOSE EMBRYOS,
00:43:24.999 --> 00:43:27.998
WE\'RE NOT JUST
CHANGING THE INDIVIDUAL
00:43:27.999 --> 00:43:30.416
THAT THAT EMBRYO
IS GOING TO BECOME,
00:43:30.417 --> 00:43:36.166
BUT WE ARE ALSO CHANGING
THE FUTURE REPRODUCTIVE CELLS
00:43:36.167 --> 00:43:40.998
OF THE INDIVIDUAL THAT THIS
EMBRYO IS GOING TO BECOME,
00:43:40.999 --> 00:43:44.750
SO THAT WE ARE AFFECTING
FUTURE GENERATIONS.
00:43:44.751 --> 00:43:47.374
I GOTTA MAKE SURE
THAT I DON\'T HAVE
00:43:47.375 --> 00:43:48.998
TOO MUCH SUCTION.
00:43:48.999 --> 00:43:52.374
OTHERWISE IT WILL
RIP IT OUT.
00:43:52.375 --> 00:43:53.666
[ NARRATOR ]: THE EMBRYO...
00:43:53.667 --> 00:43:57.958
SITE WHERE GERM-LINE
THERAPY IN HUMANS COULD BEGIN.
00:43:57.959 --> 00:44:00.541
RIGHT NOW WE\'RE ONLY
DIAGNOSING THE EMBRYO.
00:44:00.542 --> 00:44:02.998
BUT IT MAY NOT BE LONG
BEFORE SCIENTISTS START
00:44:02.999 --> 00:44:05.998
ADDING AND SUBTRACTING
GENETIC MATERIAL,
00:44:05.999 --> 00:44:08.791
JUST LIKE THEY DO
IN THE BARNYARD.
00:44:08.792 --> 00:44:09.998
I THINK WE SHOULD BASICALLY
00:44:09.999 --> 00:44:13.249
SIMPLY SAY THAT GERM-LINE
MANIPULATION OF ANY SORT
00:44:13.250 --> 00:44:16.291
IS NOT ACCEPTABLE,
BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT IS
00:44:16.292 --> 00:44:21.208
VERY HARD TO PUT WHERE YOU
WOULD DRAW THE ETHICAL LINES.
00:44:21.209 --> 00:44:24.208
AND WHAT I\'M SAYING IS THAT I
THINK WHERE PEOPLE WOULD SAY,
00:44:24.209 --> 00:44:27.999
\"WELL, IT WOULD BE OK BECAUSE
WE CAN CURE GENETIC DISEASES,\"
00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:29.708
I WOULD SAY THAT I DON\'T THINK
00:44:29.709 --> 00:44:31.998
WE CAN CURE GENETIC
DISEASES THAT WAY;
00:44:31.999 --> 00:44:33.500
THAT THERE ARE
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES
00:44:33.501 --> 00:44:36.708
ONCE YOU KNOW
WHAT A GENETIC DISEASE IS.
00:44:36.709 --> 00:44:39.958
AND THAT GIVEN THAT,
THAT IT\'S NOT NECESSARY
00:44:39.959 --> 00:44:43.999
FOR CURING DISEASE, THEN
WE SHOULD STOP IT NOW.
00:45:36.792 --> 00:45:38.124
[ PAULA BRADISH ]:
ONE OF THE REASONS
00:45:38.125 --> 00:45:40.041
WHY THERE HAS BEEN
SUCH A BROAD DEBATE
00:45:40.042 --> 00:45:44.082
IN GERMANY WITHIN THE LAST FIVE
OR SIX YEARS CERTAINLY HAS TO DO
00:45:44.083 --> 00:45:50.166
WITH THE FACT THAT THERE WAS
THIS AWFUL HISTORY OF USING
00:45:50.167 --> 00:45:54.374
SCIENCE AND USING SOCIAL POLICY
AND GOVERNMENTAL POLICY
00:45:54.375 --> 00:45:59.249
TO REALIZE EUGENIC IDEALS, OR
AT LEAST TO TRY AND REALIZE IT.
00:45:59.250 --> 00:46:01.998
AND I THINK THE OTHER REASON
BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT
00:46:01.999 --> 00:46:04.999
OF THIS BROAD DEBATE
IN GERMANY IS VERY SIMPLY
00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:08.666
THE WORK SPECIFICALLY OF
WOMEN\'S GROUPS AND OF FEMINISTS,
00:46:08.667 --> 00:46:11.208
FOR EXAMPLE, THE FACT
THAT FEMINISTS WORKING
00:46:11.209 --> 00:46:13.666
IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES IN
GERMANY HAVE BEEN MEETING
00:46:13.667 --> 00:46:16.999
SINCE 1977 ONCE A YEAR
AND TOOK UP A DISCUSSION
00:46:17.000 --> 00:46:20.998
ABOUT GENETIC ENGINEERING
AND REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
00:46:20.999 --> 00:46:24.998
ABOUT 12 YEARS AND
FROM THERE SPREAD OUT
00:46:24.999 --> 00:46:26.500
INTO THE REST OF
THE WOMEN\'S MOVEMENTS
00:46:26.501 --> 00:46:29.249
INTO OTHER WOMEN\'S GROUPS
IN THE CHURCHES, IN THE UNIONS
00:46:29.250 --> 00:46:33.583
AND ELSEWHERE AND
CONTRIBUTED VERY GREATLY
00:46:33.584 --> 00:46:34.998
TO EDUCATING THE PUBLIC
00:46:34.999 --> 00:46:38.626
AND MAKING PEOPLE THINK
ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
00:46:39.542 --> 00:46:41.583
WHEN I WENT TO GERMANY
A FEW YEARS AGO,
00:46:41.584 --> 00:46:44.082
I MET WITH AN ORGANIZATION
CALLED THE CRIPPLE GROUP.
00:46:44.083 --> 00:46:49.208
UH, WHAT I LEARNED FROM MEETING
WITH THEM IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH
00:46:49.209 --> 00:46:54.458
WE IN THIS COUNTRY DENY THAT
EUGENICS OPERATE IN OUR LIVES,
00:46:54.459 --> 00:46:58.917
IN THE REPRODUCTIVE
TECHNOLOGIES, IN THE STRUGGLE
00:46:58.918 --> 00:47:01.124
IN THE DISABILITY
RIGHTS MOVEMENT
00:47:01.125 --> 00:47:03.625
TO GET, UM, OUR VOICES HEARD.
00:47:03.626 --> 00:47:07.458
UM, THEY SHOWED A FILM
00:47:07.459 --> 00:47:11.917
ON THE HISTORY OF THEIR OWN...
THE LAST 10 YEARS OF THEIR,
00:47:11.918 --> 00:47:15.166
UM, MOVEMENT AS
A DISABLED COMMUNITY.
00:47:15.167 --> 00:47:18.791
AND IN THAT FILM,
THERE WERE SEGMENTS OF
00:47:18.792 --> 00:47:20.374
NEWSREELS FROM NAZI GERMANY
00:47:20.375 --> 00:47:22.998
WHERE PICTURES OF
DISABLED PEOPLE
00:47:22.999 --> 00:47:24.333
WERE PORTRAYED,
00:47:24.334 --> 00:47:25.917
AND THE VOICE-OVER SAID
00:47:25.918 --> 00:47:27.124
THESE ARE WORTHLESS LIVES.
00:47:27.125 --> 00:47:30.998
THESE SO-CALLED
HUMANS ARE DRAINING
00:47:30.999 --> 00:47:33.998
THE RESOURCES FROM
HEALTHY YOUNG CHILDREN.
00:47:33.999 --> 00:47:37.999
AND THEN THEY WOULD CUT AWAY
TO SOME BLOND CHILDREN PLAYING.
00:47:49.626 --> 00:47:52.958
AND IT WAS
HORRIFYING TO SEE THAT,
00:47:52.959 --> 00:47:55.998
BUT ALSO WHAT IT REMINDED
ME OF WAS THE MEDICAL SCHOOL
00:47:55.999 --> 00:47:57.998
PHOTOGRAPHS THAT I\'VE
SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN
00:47:57.999 --> 00:48:04.998
OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, UM,
OFTEN SHOWN WITH NO CLOTHES ON
00:48:04.999 --> 00:48:07.333
IN A HOSPITAL SETTING,
LOOKING HUMILIATED.
00:48:07.334 --> 00:48:11.833
AND THESE PHOTOGRAPHS
ARE SHOWN TO MEDICAL STUDENTS
00:48:11.834 --> 00:48:15.541
AS IF THAT\'S WHAT
THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIFE IS.
00:48:15.542 --> 00:48:17.833
THAT THEY ARE
NAKED IN THE HOSPITAL.
00:48:17.834 --> 00:48:19.124
THEY HAVE NO LIVES.
00:48:19.125 --> 00:48:20.333
THEY HAVE NO CLOTHES ON.
00:48:20.334 --> 00:48:22.833
THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE
IN BLACK AND WHITE.
00:48:22.834 --> 00:48:23.998
THEY HAVE NO COLOUR.
00:48:23.999 --> 00:48:25.958
THEY HAVE NOTHING
IN THEIR LIVES.
00:48:25.959 --> 00:48:28.541
AND THAT\'S WHAT MEDICAL
STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT
00:48:28.542 --> 00:48:30.998
THE QUALITY OF LIFE
FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
00:48:30.999 --> 00:48:37.041
WITH THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES
AND THE NEW FOCUS ON GENETICS,
00:48:37.042 --> 00:48:40.291
UM, EUGENICS IS CREEPING BACK IN
00:48:40.292 --> 00:48:45.541
WITHOUT USING THE OLD-FASHIONED
EUGENIC LANGUAGE,
00:48:45.542 --> 00:48:52.998
BY TALKING ABOUT MANIPULATING
GENES, MANIPULATING EMBRYOS,
00:48:52.999 --> 00:48:58.500
OR PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS,
ALL OF WHICH REALLY IS BASED ON
00:48:58.501 --> 00:49:01.750
THE ASSUMPTION THAT
WE HAVE A SOCIAL MECHANISM
00:49:01.751 --> 00:49:09.416
FOR DECIDING WHO SHOULD
AND WHO SHOULD NOT BE ALIVE,
00:49:09.417 --> 00:49:12.166
BE WITH US IN THIS WORLD.
00:49:12.167 --> 00:49:16.083
AND WE DON\'T HAVE SOCIAL
MECHANISMS FOR THAT.
00:49:17.959 --> 00:49:21.333
[ RADIO HOST ]: IS IT FAIR
TO BRING A CHILD INTO THE WORLD
00:49:21.334 --> 00:49:25.041
THAT YOU\'RE PRETTY SURE
HAS A VERY GOOD CHANCE
00:49:25.042 --> 00:49:28.166
OF HAVING A DISFIGURING DISEASE?
00:49:28.167 --> 00:49:29.708
IS IT FAIR TO THAT CHILD?
00:49:29.709 --> 00:49:31.249
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU TONIGHT.
00:49:31.250 --> 00:49:32.917
[ CALLER ]: YES,
I KNOW THIS WAS
00:49:32.918 --> 00:49:34.500
PROPOSED, BUT I
DON\'T KNOW IF
00:49:34.501 --> 00:49:35.917
IF IT BECAME
ENACTED.
00:49:35.918 --> 00:49:37.541
THERE WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE A LAW
00:49:37.542 --> 00:49:39.249
THAT IF A CHILD
WAS BORN DEFORMED,
00:49:39.250 --> 00:49:41.082
THEY CAN SUE THE
PARENTS FOR NOT,
00:49:41.083 --> 00:49:43.458
FOR NOT, UH,
ABORTING THEM.
00:49:43.459 --> 00:49:44.750
OH, REALLY?
00:49:44.751 --> 00:49:45.709
WE\'LL GO BACK TO THE PHONES.
00:49:45.710 --> 00:49:48.998
WE\'LL GO TO PENNY WHO\'S A
FIRST-TIME CALLER FROM UPLAND.
00:49:48.999 --> 00:49:50.917
PENNY, YOU\'RE ON KFI.
00:49:50.918 --> 00:49:51.998
HI.
00:49:51.999 --> 00:49:53.166
WELL, IF WE
EVENTUALLY
00:49:53.167 --> 00:49:55.998
SELECTIVELY BREED,
BREED ALL OF THESE
00:49:55.999 --> 00:50:01.875
ANOMALIES OUT,
WHERE\'S OUR CARING,
00:50:01.876 --> 00:50:04.833
OUR LOVE
FOR THINGS
00:50:04.834 --> 00:50:06.166
THAT AREN\'T
PERFECT?
00:50:06.167 --> 00:50:07.125
WELL, I THINK WE ALL HAVE
00:50:07.126 --> 00:50:10.541
ENOUGH IMPERFECTIONS THAT WE
DON\'T NEED TO PERPETUATE...
00:50:10.542 --> 00:50:12.833
BUT WE DON\'T WANT
TO LOOK AT THEM.
00:50:12.834 --> 00:50:13.998
WELL, BUT WE HAVE THEM.
00:50:13.999 --> 00:50:15.998
BUT THAT\'S WHY WE
DON\'T WANT THEM.
00:50:15.999 --> 00:50:17.791
IT\'S BECAUSE
THEY\'RE THERE
00:50:17.792 --> 00:50:18.999
AND THEY\'RE
LOOKED AT.
00:50:19.000 --> 00:50:20.998
SO WE TRY AND
BREED THEM OUT.
00:50:20.999 --> 00:50:23.999
SO WHAT DO YOU
THINK, LOS ANGELES?
00:50:36.999 --> 00:50:39.166
CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY
TELEFILM CANADA
00:50:39.167 --> 00:50:44.083
CAPTIONS PERFORMED BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING CENTRE
Distributor: National Film Board of Canada
Length: 45 minutes
Date: 1992
Genre: Expository
Language: English
Closed Captioning: Available
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