The development of a child from conception to birth, using both microimagery and the story of a young couple preparing for their first child.

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Note: This program contains graphic images. Please preview the program to determine its appropriateness for your classroom. NOVA explores reproduction with a microscopic view of conception and development of a new human life. The program: -- explains sexual and asexual reproduction. -- discusses the importance of the mating rituals of humans and other species, explaining the evolutionary benefits of sexual reproduction in creating variation and improving a species' survival rate. -- explores the function of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in carrying human genetic information. -- describes the human reproductive systems. -- traces the journey of sperm from the time it enters the female body to when it fertilizes the egg. -- presents the earliest stages of development of the embryo, using time-lapse microphotography to show the divisions of cells. -- documents the development of the embryo into a fetus, highlighting the growth and formation of vital organs, body parts, and senses. -- concludes with the birth of a child. Eight chapters: Passing on your DNA -- The Egg's Journey -- The Sperm's Journey -- The First Two Weeks -- The Embryo Takes Shape -- Messages in the Genes -- Feeding the Growing Fetus -- The Third Trimester.