You are invited to join us for THE GENE: A KC Town Hall on March 31 when leaders and ethicists from the Center for Practical Bioethics along with local researchers, medical students and patients will examine Kansas City’s role in genetic research. Moderated by KCPT’s Nick Haines, participants will explore the ethics and nagging questions over who benefits from genetic research and who is left behind. THE GENE: A KC Town Hall will air on KCPT Channel 19 at 7:30 p.m. on April 9.  

THE GENE: An Intimate History, a two-part documentary series on the quest to decipher the master code of instructions that defines humans, will air on KCPT Channel 19 from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. on April 7 and 14. Key moments in the documentary, presented by Ken Burns, include the birth of genetics, discovery of the structure of DNA, identification of the first genes that cause human illnesses, the excesses of eugenics in Germany and the United States, recent attempts to change the genetic material of human embryos, and breakthroughs in our understanding of how genes impact heredity, disease and behavior.  

There is no charge to participate in the Town Hall event, but you must register using the link below. Park in Lot G on the South side of Independence Avenue between Highland and The Paseo and follow signage to the Academic Center. For questions about location and parking, call 816-654-7000.