Ken Burns developing 'The Gene' based on Mukherjee's bestseller

Ken Burns is simultaneously working on projects ranging from Vietnam to the history of the Mayo Clinic to a documentary on country music.

Next he'd like to tackle human genetics.

WETA, the PBS affiliate in Washington, D.C., has optioned the rights to The Gene: An Intimate History, Siddhartha Mukherjee's expansive book on the human genetics, published in May, with Burns attached as producer.

The four-hour project, now in development and seeking funding for what Burns anticipates will be a 2018 airdate,  marks a reunion of the author and producer: Burns' 2015 project, Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies, was based on Mukherjee's 2010 book. Both projects will also share producer/director Barak Goodman. ...