Introductory course covering basic principles and concepts of biology. Methods of scientific inquiry and behavior of matter and energy in biological systems are explored.
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Basic Parts of the Cell - 2:11The two types of cells are the eukaryotic and the prokaryotic. Each cell contains many small organs or organelles within them. Most cells are very small.
Book of Life: Genetics and Evolution: An Ingenious Code - 01:58An expert reflects on the appearance of life in different environments. DNA is a common thread through all living things. Humans have decoded the DNA of creatures on nearly every branch of the tree of life.
Cancer Cell Research: The Way of the Flesh - 1:00:00For years, scientists tried to get cancer cells to reproduce outside of the body with little success. In 1951, a few days before an African-American woman named Henrietta Lacks died of cervical cancer in a Baltimore hospital, and without her consent, a scientist took samples from her remarkably aggressive tumor and placed them in growth medium to see if the cancerous cells would survive and grow. Not only did they flourish, but Henrietta’s cells have since proven vital to cancer research worldwide. Known as the HeLa immortal cell line in biomedical research, Henrietta's cells have endured for decades in labs around the world while she remained anonymous and unrecognized. This program examines how HeLa cells have advanced the war on cancer and why they have caused controversy among scientists in the highly politicized research community. (60 minutes)
Cell Division and Growth - 23:21The cell cycle is a series of developmental and growth events that chart the normal life of a cell. This program uses easy-to-follow animation to illustrate the growth phases of the cell cycle and the processes of mitosis and cytokinesis that follow. The distinct phases of mitosis—including prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase—are described in detail. The program also explains meiosis, a variation of mitosis involving the formation of gametes in two stages. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is also covered, including the effects of uncontrolled cell division (cancer). A part of the series Cell Biology: Structure, Function, and Processes. (22 minutes)
Cell Functions: A Closer Look - 20:23This program examines three main activities of the cell: energy storage and release, protein synthesis, and cell reproduction. Students take a closer look at important organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, and the roles they play in cell metabolism. Also examined are proteins, amino acids, ribosomes, DNA, RNA, genes, chromosomes, transcription, and translation. Mitosis is clearly defined and illustrated. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (20 minutes)
Cell Membranes - 1:22Cell membranes are semipermeable barriers that surround cells, controlling which particles enter and leave the cells.
Cell Metabolism & Respiration - 22:47All living organisms need energy to perform day-to-day tasks. Using straightforward, vibrant animation to anchor otherwise complex ideas, this program shows how that energy is created through the metabolic processes of catabolism, aerobic cellular respiration, and anabolism. Respiration is covered in depth, with detailed explanations of glycolysis, the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain. Also covered is fermentation and anaerobic cellular respiration, and how cells help build large, complex molecules through the process of anabolism. A part of the series Cell Biology: Structure, Function, and Processes. (22 minutes)
Cells: An Introduction - 19:36In this virtual journey through the cell, viewers become familiar with cells and their properties. The program describes and shows examples of cells of many shapes and sizes, and explores the structure and functions of different types of cells. Eukaryotes and prokaryotes are defined, and plant and animal cells are compared. Emphasizing cells as the basic building blocks of all organisms, another segment describes the organization of cells and the formation of tissues, organs, and systems. The program concludes with an overview of the organelles and their functions. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (20 minutes)
Cells: Basic Components of Organisms - 2:45The cell is the simplest component of living matter that can carry out all the activities necessary for life. The simplest life forms are made of only one cell, while complex organisms are multi-cellular.
Cells:The Building Blocks of Life - 16:19This video takes a close-up look at the lowest common denominator of all life: the cell. It illustrates essential cellular processes—transportation of materials, communication, energy transfer, protein-building, waste disposal, movement, and the all-important mitosis and meiosis—as well as key cellular landmarks like the nucleus, ribosomes, mitochondria, the Golgi complex, the endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes. Special attention is given to recent advances in biotechnology. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. Correlates to National Academy of Sciences National Science Education Standards and the American Association for the Advancement of Science Benchmarks for Science Literacy. A Cambridge Educational Production. (16 minutes)
Cell Structure & Function - 22:26This program explores the basic structure of both animal and plant cells and the specific functions that different cell components serve. After an overview of a complete cell, individual segments dive in to detail each of the specific parts. Discrete, pedagogical segments cover: the plasma membrane, extracellular matrix, flagellum and cilia, the nucleus, nucleolus, nuclear envelope, cytosol and cytoplasm, the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticula, the golgi apparatus, ribosomes, lysosomes, vacuoles, peroxisome, and mitochondria. Where plant and animal cells different is made clear, and separate segments on structures unique to plants include the cell wall, plasmodesmata, and chloroplasts. A part of the series Cell Biology: Structure, Function, and Processes. (22 minutes)
Chemistry #1 - What are Atoms Made Of?/All About Atoms - 06:25Everything is made up of atoms, but what are atoms made of? This program summarizes modern atomic theory and the chemistry of atoms. First, modern atomic theory is explained with emphasis on some of the major breakthroughs by Ernest Rutherford, who experimented with alpha particles; Niels Bohr, who observed the valency of elements; and Dmitri Mendeleev, who designed the periodic table of elements. Next, the structure of the periodic table is examined, including an explanation of its organization by atomic mass and reactivity. Then, valency and ways in which elements are combined to create different substances are illustrated. An informative and fast-paced survey of basic principles of chemistry. (27 minutes)
Chemistry - Periodic Table of Elements - 14:00Chemistry has an impact on every aspect of our daily lives. The most important chemistry reference is the Periodic Table of the Elements. By providing a logical, mathematical method of organization, the table has become a critical tool for students, teachers and scientists around the globe. This program explores the discoveries that led up to the organization of the periodic table and how it is presently organized. It introduces and explores several elements (Hydrogen and Titanium) and their effect on our daily lives and the environments in which they occur.
Classification Systems - 22:12Research in biology would be impossible without a common framework for grouping and distinguishing species. This program looks at the classification system first proposed by Linnaeus and shows how it developed into the organizational structure used in the life sciences today. Viewers also learn how new scientific names are created and how the existing system has been further refined using DNA studies. Overviewing the five kingdoms and their major subdivisions, the film describes how biologists use dichotomous keys to classify specimens and provides a helpful example of constructing a key. (22 minutes)
Epigenetics - 2:13You are what you eat, but science suggests you’re also what your grandmother ate. This video clip features interviews with medical experts who say that our ancestors pass down more than just their genes. In 2000 the human genome was finally mapped and scientists had cracked our genetic code. But they didn’t bargain on discovering a hidden array of switches that can be turned on, or off, not only by what our bodies experience, but also by what our predecessors got up to. See how this new information could shape the development of treatments for many diseases including cancer.
Fat: Humanity's Best Friend - 29:00Despite the success of the diet industry and the growing awareness of obesity as a genuine health risk, the human body does need fat. This program reveals the benefits as well as the dangers of body fat while illustrating the characteristics found in various types of fat tissue. Explaining how and why fat evolved and how it behaves differently depending on the individual, the program also studies the ability of fat cells to communicate with other parts of the body and how some fats may produce illnesses—for example, Alzheimer’s and cancer. The dubious nature of many anti-fat drugs and their unfortunate consequences are explored; the program also outlines certain medical cures that have resulted from studying fat and points to the naturally slimming qualities of smart eating. Contains brief nudity. (29 minutes)
Weighing the Decision: The Ethics and Science of Stem Cell Research - 26:11On August 9, 2001, President George W. Bush announced his support for federal funding of limited embryonic stem cell research. This NewsHour program offers a revealing snapshot of that historic intersection between science and public policy. It features a panel of ethicists and researchers expressing their views on the President’s decisions—including University of Chicago professor Leon Kass, who soon became chair of the President’s Council on Bioethics; Dr. Dianne Krause, a stem cell researcher and Yale School of Medicine professor; Alta Charo, a University of Wisconsin professor of law and bioethics; and Richard Doerflinger, Deputy Director of Pro-Life Activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Hand Me Down Genes - Family Patterns - 28:10When you look at a family photo, the resemblances, even across several generations, can be striking. What role do genes play, and why aren’t siblings identical (and why are some)? This program explains how the formation of sex cells, from the first gamete to chromosome pairs, determines our genetic makeup. Deviations such as cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, achondroplasia, Klinefelter syndrome, and Turner syndrome are also discussed. (28 minutes)
Healthy Food Enhancer - 1:41By harnessing a chemical compound that makes strawberries taste and smell sweet, scientists are working on ways to make unhealthy processed foods better for you, and healthy foods taste better.
Heat: Dynamic Discoveries - 22:10How do plants and animals stave off overheating and dehydration under a relentless sun—especially when burdened with thick skins, hides, or shells? This program looks at adaptations and survival techniques that cope with intense heat, particularly in desert environments. Venturing into the Sonora Desert, viewers learn about the sprawling root system of the saguaro cactus and the water recycling abilities of the desert tortoise. Moving into the human realm, the program studies passive cooling in ancient Sinagua pueblos as well as in new architectural forms, while highlighting the concept of urban heat islands. The human brain’s role in controlling heat distribution within the body is also a topic. (22 minutes)
Introduction to Life Science - 18:24Launch a unit on life science with this video! It addresses central topics in biology—evolution, cellular structure, and hierarchical organization, to name only three; explains the process of scientific inquiry; and spotlights the contributions of key researchers in the life sciences, from Aristotle to Watson and Crick. The video also provides students with a bird’s-eye view of many exciting biological fields, including biochemistry, ecology, genetics, marine biology, molecular biology, neuroscience, paleontology, and more. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. Correlates to National Academy of Sciences National Science Education Standards and the American Association for the Advancement of Science Benchmarks for Science Literacy. A Cambridge Educational Production. (18 minutes)
Photosynthesis (from Forests) - 2:52Forests act as immense solar captors that convert light energy to vital energy through a process called photosynthesis. Animals breathe out carbon dioxide that plants require for photosynthesis.
Science in Everyday Life: Genetics Video Clips - 23:43This collection of seven dazzling video clips focuses on various aspects of genetics ranging from history’s DNA eureka moment, paternity testing, structural degradation of DNA, and tumor research using transgenic mice; to a human death gene and the role of stem cells in a freshwater polyp known as the hydra; to a case of gender/chromosome mismatch in which a girl is unable to naturally mature into a woman.
Scientific Method (from Introduction to Life Science) - 4:41The scientific method involves asking a question, formulating a hypothesis, making predictions, performing experiments, testing predictions, interpreting results, and drawing conclusions.
Sexual and Asexual Reproduction - 16:12All forms of life, from the simple to the highly complex, possess not only the ability but the instinct to reproduce. This program gives an introduction to the basic biological concepts involved with sexual and asexual reproduction. Starting at the cellular level, the video distinguishes between reproduction that occurs sexually, in an exchange of genetic material between two organisms, and asexually, in which organisms produce offspring with a genetic makeup identical to the parent. Several plant and animal examples are included, as are clear explanations of meiosis and mitosis. The various evolutionary benefits and disadvantages of both types of reproduction are also examined. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (16 minutes)
Stem Cell Therapy -- Beyond the Headlines: Timothy Henry at TEDxGrandForks -There is considerable excitement about the use of stem cells for cardiovascular disease. Stem cells are unspecialized cells with the unique property to self-renew or make copies of themselves and to differentiate into specialized cells. The goal of stem cell therapy is to enhance the body's natural process of regeneration. There are a considerable number of stem cells currently under investigation for patients with heart attacks, angina, heart failure, and peripheral arterial disease. We have made considerable progress but have many questions left to answer.
Sugar Surprise: Dieter's Dilemma - 24:43The average person consumes way too much sugar—without even knowing it. This video reveals the true sugar content of everyday food products and the negative health effects of a high-sugar diet. Guiding viewers through the aisles of a grocery store, nutritionist Beth Mansfield explains the fine points of nutrition labels and explores ways to figure out the actual amount of sugar in fruit juice, snack bars, cereals, and other supposedly healthy fare. Also included is an interview with Dr. Marion Nestle, NYU professor of nutrition and author of the eye-opening book Food Politics, as well as information on WHO nutrition guidelines, commentary from a sugar industry lobbyist, and a visit with a 12-year-old girl determined to lower her sugar intake. (25 minutes)
TEDTalks: Paul Root Wolpe—It’s Time to Question Bioengineering - 19:36At TEDxPeachtree, bioethicist Paul Root Wolpe describes an astonishing series of recent bioengineering experiments, from glowing dogs to mice that grow human ears. He asks: isn’t it time to set some ground rules. Paul Root Wolpe examines the ethical implications of new science -- genetic modification, neuroscience and other breakthroughs that stretch our current philosophy to the breaking point. He's the chief bioethicist at NASA, among other appointments.
Virus Kills Foodborne Bacteria - 1:44Each year about 48 million Americans get sick from contaminated foods or beverages, causing symptoms from vomiting to abdominal pain and even death in severe cases. Now microbiologists are working on a new way to target and kill the bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses before they can get you sick.
Covers general lab techniques, basic methods in cellular and molecular biology, Biology I: yeast, Drosophila, and C.elegans, Biology II: Mouse, Zebrafish, and chick, lab animal research, and lab safety.