"The Gene: An Intimate History" is a major new four-hour documentary from Ken Burns and Barak Goodman, adapted from the award-winning book of the same name by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee. The series tells the story of the rapid evolution of genetic science from Gregor Mendel’s groundbreaking experiment in the 19th century to CRISPR, and the hope that newfound powers to alter DNA with pinpoint precision will transform the treatment of some of the world’s most complex and challenging diseases. The series also tackles the daunting ethical challenges that these technologies pose for humankind.

How do you film the “biography” of the gene? What goes into making a two-part, four-hour documentary film? The Behind the Scenes Producers’ Blog answers these questions and provides an all-access pass to the filming, editing, and production of this groundbreaking television event.