The episode is OK, but often irritatingly bad. It starts off with a look at the Human Genome Project. We then proceed to look at the ongoing Cancer Genome Project, which sounds very promising. The increasing role of computers in biology and medicine is highlighted. Then the show covers growing organs in a lab - in and of itself a fascinating field. After that, we move on to calorie restriction, and then - life extension in general.
Some parts of the episode are, to put it mildly, weak. To get his genome tested for disease-relevant markers, Michio interacts with a certain Harry Ostrer, a doctor at the NYU Institute of Biomolecular Medicine. Ostrer sullenly stares at Michio Kaku as he reveals the following "valuable information": 1. Michio Kaku has double the genetic risk for coronary artery disease, but that's no reason for concern, because the Japanese statistically don't have high incidence of heart disease. 2. Michio Kaku doesn't have the genetic marker for Alzheimer's, but he should be concerned nonetheless, since Alzheimer's has manifested in his parents. In other words: genetic markers are basically useless, and you can get more relevant information from the statistics of your group. If so, why get the test at all? Somehow, the makers of the episode don't connect the dots on this, and Michio goes on to talk about the breakthrough that is genetic testing, as if his genetic test results for two specific diseases weren't just effectively pronounced inconsequential.
Also, during the segment on organ growth and replacement, we get to hear from a pessimistic Dr. Susan Greenfield, who offers up the following imbecilic opinion: if - rather, when - growing and transplanting organs becomes easy, and overcoming trauma and disease becomes next to painless, humans will become less "interesting", and less in touch with their "humanity". To that I say: people who are rational will always pick the benefits of improved medical care and the absence of pain over the scenarios we have now, with individuals dying in agony and misery while fruitlessly waiting for an available lung transplant. Dr. Greenfield, however, apparently finds the status quo preferable, as it enables the victim to retain his/her "humanity", and to remain "interesting".
When we get to lifespan extension, there's a similar problem. Michio himself, as well as aforementioned Susan and others, can't wait to threaten us with the vague problems and unspecified downsides of living longer, potentially - forever. By this point, I was really tired of the series' approach to the subject matter. They spent so much more time on speculating about the negative sides of all the impending progress that a more accurate name for the series would have been "Gloomy Musings on the Future".
At least there's Professor Julian Savalescu (Oxford Uehiro Center for Practical Ethics), who has a more sensible, positive outlook on the coming changes.
6/10.
Some parts of the episode are, to put it mildly, weak. To get his genome tested for disease-relevant markers, Michio interacts with a certain Harry Ostrer, a doctor at the NYU Institute of Biomolecular Medicine. Ostrer sullenly stares at Michio Kaku as he reveals the following "valuable information": 1. Michio Kaku has double the genetic risk for coronary artery disease, but that's no reason for concern, because the Japanese statistically don't have high incidence of heart disease. 2. Michio Kaku doesn't have the genetic marker for Alzheimer's, but he should be concerned nonetheless, since Alzheimer's has manifested in his parents. In other words: genetic markers are basically useless, and you can get more relevant information from the statistics of your group. If so, why get the test at all? Somehow, the makers of the episode don't connect the dots on this, and Michio goes on to talk about the breakthrough that is genetic testing, as if his genetic test results for two specific diseases weren't just effectively pronounced inconsequential.
Also, during the segment on organ growth and replacement, we get to hear from a pessimistic Dr. Susan Greenfield, who offers up the following imbecilic opinion: if - rather, when - growing and transplanting organs becomes easy, and overcoming trauma and disease becomes next to painless, humans will become less "interesting", and less in touch with their "humanity". To that I say: people who are rational will always pick the benefits of improved medical care and the absence of pain over the scenarios we have now, with individuals dying in agony and misery while fruitlessly waiting for an available lung transplant. Dr. Greenfield, however, apparently finds the status quo preferable, as it enables the victim to retain his/her "humanity", and to remain "interesting".
When we get to lifespan extension, there's a similar problem. Michio himself, as well as aforementioned Susan and others, can't wait to threaten us with the vague problems and unspecified downsides of living longer, potentially - forever. By this point, I was really tired of the series' approach to the subject matter. They spent so much more time on speculating about the negative sides of all the impending progress that a more accurate name for the series would have been "Gloomy Musings on the Future".
At least there's Professor Julian Savalescu (Oxford Uehiro Center for Practical Ethics), who has a more sensible, positive outlook on the coming changes.
6/10.
