The Nature of Things

The Ages of Man: A Breath of Life (2) (10x8)

Air date: Nov 12, 1969

Every year, over 12,000 Canadians are born with serious inherited defects. Maureen McChesney, 12, is one. A victim of cystic fibrosis, she must sleep in a special mist tent, take 110 pills and submit to three hours of special medical treatment every day. The program focuses on Maureen and her treatment and looks at genetics research and some other diseases transmitted through inheritance, including muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, and mongolism. It shows what medicine tries to do when there is a suspicion of genetic damage in the foetus, and how those born with genetic defects are assisted.