Likening the beauty and complexity of DNA to an epic poem, this program revolves around the idea that we all carry the story of life on Earth in our genes, and that the similarities between species may play a more significant role in that story than previously thought. A visit to Iceland’s hot springs reveals heat-, acid-, and salt-resistant organisms called archaea—primordial versions of which may have set the stage for multicellular life. Moving to more advanced species, the film looks at bone-development genes in boa constrictors that are comparable to those of humans. Such parallels, the program says, indicate not only shared genetic origins but also the notion that particular clusters of genes are focal points of evolutionary importance. Produced by the Open University. A part of the series The Gene Code. (49 minutes)