Hopeful Monsters

Synopsis

When biologist Mike Levine came across a picture of a mutant fruit fly, with two perfectly formed legs in place of its antennae, he had found the key to the toolkit nature uses to evolve new creatures. The discovery shed light on some of the great mysteries of biology: how the dinosaurs became so large, how humans evolved from apes, or how strange genetic throw-backs still occur, like people with extra fingers or toes. It looks to a sequence of genetic research that could lead to cures for cancer, Parkinson’s disease and baldness.

Series

Horizon, Series

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 50 min.

Year of production

1998

Availability

Sale; 2000 sale: £99.00 (+VAT +p&p)

Notes

Broadcast on BBC2 on 19/3/98.

Subjects

Biology

Keywords

genetic variation; genetics

Credits

Director

Bryn Higgins

Producer

Peter Goodchild

Writer

Peter Goodchild

Contributor

Mike Levine

Cast

John Lynch

Production Company

Name

Stone City Films

Distributor

Name

BBC Active Video for Learning - now BBC Learning

Contact

Carolina Fernandez Jeremy Wilcox (CF - for educational enquiries JW - channel sales manager)

Email

BBCStudiosLearning@bbc.com

Web

https://www.bbcstudioslearning.com/ External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 20 8433 1009

Address

BBC Studios Limited
Television Centre
101 Wood Lane
London
W12 7FA
UK

Notes

The BBC Active company has now been absorbed within BBC Learning, a division of BBC Studios. It was originally a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Pearson Education. Formerly known as ‘BBC Worldwide Learning Studies’ and before that as ‘Videos for Education & Training’