A handful of children around the world cannot tolerate the sun. Any exposure leads rapidly to skin cancer. They must either play indoors during daylight or be protected from head to toe in UV-proof suits. These children suffer from a strange and rare genetically-inherited disease, xeroderma pigmentosum, or XP, which means that within seconds of the sun's rays touching their skin, they are in danger of developing skin cancer. Sun Children with XP are missing the crucial gene that repairs damage to DNA and so exposure to any carcinogen - UV light, or even cigarette smoke - is lethal. Unless, they are thoroughly protected they will die from cancer at an early age. There is no cure. But these tragic children may may lead the way to new and better cancer treatment. Through studying XP sufferers, scientists have reached a whole new understanding of the genetic basis of cancer. They can now predict why one in three people will succumb to cancer. Scientists have discovered how the body survives damage and repairs itself and as a result of this, developed a radical new approach to treating cancer. Horizon explores the story of one family, where 5 out of 7 siblings suffer from XP, and how they provide the final proof that genes and DNA repair are linked to cancer. It follows an intricate 40-year scientific detective story from the discovery of DNA, through the chance findings of the cells of the XP families that led to the unexpected insight that DNA is capable of repairing itself and that the failure of this repair system underlies most cancers. After years of research, this insight is finally beginning to revolutionise medicine. Now a new concept in cancer drug therapy is just beginning medical trials based on the knowledge gained from children suffering from XP.
| Title | Horizon - Season 37 Episode 9 : Moon Children |
|---|---|
| Alternative Titles | BBC Horizon |
| Subtitle Available |
 ETC.
|
| First Air Date | 1964-02-04 |
| Last Air Date | 2024-07-22 |
| Number of Episodes | 1169 |
| Number of Seasons | 60 |
| Genres | Documentary, |
| Networks | BBC Two, |
| Casts | |
| Plot Keywords | , |
Episodes List
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 1 Breath of Life Breath of Life
2000-01-12Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 2 The Lost City of Nasca The Lost City of Nasca
2000-01-20Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 3 The Diamond Makers The Diamond Makers
2000-01-27Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 4 Supervolcanoes Supervolcanoes
2000-02-03Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 5 Miracle In Orbit Miracle In Orbit
2000-02-03Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 6 Complete Obsession - Body Dysmorphia Complete Obsession - Body Dysmorphia
2000-02-17Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 7 Is GM Safe? Is GM Safe?
2000-03-09Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 8 Planet Hunters Planet Hunters
2000-03-16Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 9 Moon Children Moon Children
2000-04-04Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 10 Mega-tsunami: Wave of Destruction Mega-tsunami: Wave of Destruction
2000-10-12Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 11 Conjoined Twins Conjoined Twins
2000-10-19Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 12 The Lost World of Lake Vostok The Lost World of Lake Vostok
2000-10-26Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 13 Vanished: The Plane that Disappeared Vanished: The Plane that Disappeared
2000-11-02Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 14 The Secret Treasures of Zeugma The Secret Treasures of Zeugma
2000-11-09Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 15 Valley of Life or Death Valley of Life or Death
2000-11-16Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 16 Extreme Dinosaurs Extreme Dinosaurs
2000-11-23Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 17 Supermassive Black Holes Supermassive Black Holes
2000-11-30Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 18 The Boy who was Turned into a Girl The Boy who was Turned into a Girl
2000-12-07Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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Horizon Season 37 :Episode 19 Atlantis Reborn Again Atlantis Reborn Again
2000-12-14Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
