The First 8 Weeks

100 trillion cells. 280 days. One human life. The person you are was decided before you were even born. The way you smile, the environments you thrive in, the colour of your children's eyes - from the moment you're conceived to the moment you're born, each critical event in the womb can change your life forever. And the clock is ticking.

In episode one, Michael Mosley tells the story of our first eight weeks - the most perilous time in the womb. This is when everything about who we are hangs in the balance - when the layout of our organs is determined, when our heart makes its first beat, and when the length of our lives could be decided. Told through a series of surprising, moving and inspirational human stories, we discover how the journey to becoming a human being is a rollercoaster ride where anything can - and does - happen.

Produced in partnership with The Open University.