A look at how modern genetic research is helping scientists to understand a rare life-threatening heart condition, as well as the more common skin condition, eczema in this video for KS4 science and above.
Susie Murray has a rare inherited heart condition called Long QT, which, if left untreated, can lead to rapid heartbeats, blackouts and even sudden death.
Long QT is described as a single gene condition but geneticist Dr Bill Newman explains that there are at least eight genes that can be involved.
Eczema is a common and complex condition, caused by both genetic and environmental factors.
Professor Irwin McLean believes it is only since the arrival of large-scale genomic tests that scientists have been able to investigate all the factors involved and identify new genes contributing to eczema.
The latest genetic research provides powerful tools to understand the causes of different illnesses.
This video has been produced with Teachers TV as part of the Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme. Educational resources are currently being developed to support teaching and learning using this video. They will be available here in late September 2010.
