“Unnatural Selection” hosted by Isobel Yeung, Kicks Off Season Four Premier of VICE on HBO
BROOKLYN, NY (February 4, 2016) – Season Four of VICE on HBO premieres tomorrow, February 5 at 11:00pm. Season Four is VICE‘s longest running season yet with 18 episodes from February 5 through July 1. The season opens with a segment on unnatural selection, human gene editing, and designer babies hosted by Isobel Yeung. The segment is particularly timely given the U.K.’s recent decision to allow scientists to genetically modify human embryos. Following, is an advanced clip from the segment: . In this scene, Isobel meets a couple who decides to choose the sex of their baby. Thoughts?
“Unnatural Selection” – Isobel Yeung
VICE Correspondent Isobel Yeung with Chief Technology Officer Cunxiang Ju at the National Resource Center for Mutant Mice in Nanjing, China. Photo credit: Jerry Ricciotti for VICE.
For centuries, scientists have been working to change the genetic traits of plants and animals. Now, a new gene-editing method called CRISPR has made that process astonishingly simple—so simple that it could easily be used on humans. Isobel reports from Brazil, Scotland, China, and the United States on the technological advances that could reshape evolution as we know it. She speaks with renowned experts including George Church, Jennifer Doudna and various bioethicists and foreign policy experts. Over the course of the segment, Isobel learns about what this technology actually means for the next generation. Isobel is a Correspondent and Producer for Emmy-winning television series VICE on HBO and you can follow her on Twitter @IsobelYeung.
Editors Note: We will be running a feature following the airing of this segment and would like to hear your thoughts and feedback regarding this topic. Watch the advanced clip here.
