Biology

Human reproduction is a fascinating and complex process, especially when seen microscopically. This program presents a close-up view of reproduction, beginning with the fertilization of the female egg, through gestation and the millions of cell divisions, and culminating in the birth of a fully formed individual. Each stage of the development is visualized in sequence: when the heart begins to beat, when the limbs develop, when the child first moves and responds to stimuli, and when it offers its first cry to the world at the moment of birth. Sophisticated computer animation and technical narration are used throughout in an effort to explain the gestation and birth processes for the advanced learner. (35 minutes)

This two-volume set combines live-action video, colorful computer graphics and animations, and interviews with scientists to introduce students to ideas central to understanding cells and their profound role in the living world. Viewable/printable instructor's guides are available online. Correlates to the National Science Education Standards developed by the National Academies of Science and Project 2061 Benchmarks for Science Literacy from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. A Cambridge Educational Production. 2-part series, 20 minutes each.

Considered the father of modern ecology, Pierre Dansereau is known worldwide for his work on forest dynamics, building a bridge between natural and human science. Lively and insightful, Dansereau discusses his visionary theories and worldview in this program, using computer graphics and location footage to illustrate his ball of arrows" model of trophic levels within a given ecosystem and the "environmental pie," a kind of questionnaire used to determine an individual or group's environmental needs. (51 minutes)"

This program looks at the events that lead from the fertilized cell to a human baby. Using film of living fetuses in the womb, it explains how the familiar human shape is sculpted" out of the basic cell mass, what controls the timing of the various stages of fetal development, and what life is like for a fetus. (26 minutes)"

From the promise of eliminating genetic disease to the threat of eradicating human diversity, the potential of genetics to benefit humankind is matched only by its capacity for harm. Using interviews, archival footage, and period film clips, this insightful program traces the history of genomic research and its dark offspring: behavioral genetics, eugenics, and the commodification of children. Spotlighting topics including the Human Genome Project, gene patenting, cloning, fertility clinics, genetic testing, and the discriminatory practices of insurance companies, Nobel Laureate Dr. James Watson, Dr. Leroy Hood, and numerous other experts examine the potential of the biotechnological revolution and the moral and ethical issues it raises. (2 parts, 49 minutes and 46 minutes)

This program covers the physical process of aging, examining the various body systems to see how and why they change as they age. It also shows that not all the changes in older people are inevitable and that some changes in the aging body can be slowed down or reversed. (26 minutes)

To most people, old age means gray hair and wrinkled skin-but that's just the surface. In this program, anatomist Gunther von Hagens and pathologist John Lee focus on the rarely seen, internal effects of aging. The body of a woman who died in her 80s is analyzed in sections, then contrasted with corresponding sections from a young woman. Comparing age to a progressive disease, von Hagens and Lee expose the lungs, heart, liver, stomach, and the aged brain-which contains more pronounced folds and thinner gray matter than a young brain-as well as the colon, which becomes more distended with age, leading to the digestive complaints common among the elderly. Viewer discretion is advised. Contains clinically explicit language and demonstrations. (49 minutes)

This program discusses the nature of the HIV virus and shows how it propagates by utilizing living cells. Its organization is examined, along with its most prominent genes-gag, pol, and env. Reverse transcription-the process by which the virus enters the DNA-is examined. Prevention of the reverse transcription process, along with the development of protease inhibitors and genetically engineered protein vaccines, are discussed as promising ways of slowing reproduction of the AIDS virus. (38 minutes)

This program analyzes how flight evolved not once but four times, in very different ways. Presenting a number of theories, the program examines how insects, pterosaurs, birds, and bats each took to the sky. Bug wings that may have evolved from larval gills into pond-crossing sails; flight feathers that could have begun as soft down on small dinosaurs; and bat wings that probably developed from the webbed paws of gliding rodents are considered. Convergent evolution and echolocation are also discussed. Original BBCW broadcast title: Airborne. (51 minutes)

Since Darwin, solving the mystery of life's origins has been the quest of scientists in fields as diverse as astrobiology and zoology. This riveting program presents a fascinating glimpse into what might-or might not-be the smallest, most primitive living organisms. The program also serves as a case study in applying scientific method to advance radically new propositions, from initial discovery through hypothesis to funding and commercial applications. Dr. Philippa Uwins, a geologist who discovered these nanobes" in rock samples, defends her findings against the criticism of such fellow scientists as Professor Kenneth Nealson of NASA. (54 minutes)"

Genetically speaking, only half a percent's difference separates any two human beings in the world, less of a difference than that between any two chimpanzees or gorillas. In this program, Robert Krulwich, the engaging science correspondent for ABC News, joins Eric Lander, professor at MIT's Whitehead Institute, to provide a concise look at the results of the Human Genome Project, a fascinating roundup of discoveries that truly puts the human race in perspective. Using outstanding graphics, Krulwich and Lander discuss the genetic record of the race carried by every person and how many of these genes are dormant-or not even inherently human. William Haseltine, CEO of Human Genome Sciences, and Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, are also interviewed. (39 minutes)

In this program, Dr. Susan Greenfield expresses her belief that all aspects of human experience will eventually be explained in terms of the physical processes of the brain. Cases drawn from the history of brain research-from the earliest and crudest studies of the effects of brain injury to the latest data derived from brain surgery on patients who are awake and alert-offer insights both fascinating and controversial. Is it possible that humankind's deepest spiritual feelings are simply the result of complex electrical activity in the temporal lobe? A BBC Production. (50 minutes)

Inviting viewers into a rarely seen underground world, this program illustrates recent developments in the study of Africa's naked mole rat and its system of subterranean colonization. With an overview of the species' eusocial behavior-which includes allegiance to a queen, drawing comparisons to many insect communities-the video describes an innovative approach to capturing the naked mole rat that enables close study, a vast improvement over previous methods which often proved fatal to colony inhabitants. The program also depicts the animal's exceptional digging abilities. (13 minutes)

Allan Wilson, a groundbreaking researcher and a lightning rod for controversy, revolutionized science and galvanized the scientific community through his quantitative biochemical approach to the history of evolution. Drawing upon the insights and recollections of those who knew Wilson best, this program-narrated by paleoanthropologist Tim White, codiscoverer of the hominid Lucy"-correlates milestones of his remarkable career with his enduring contributions that range from molecular phylogenies of multiple species to an understanding of mechanisms underlying the mode and tempo of organismal evolution. Commentary by David Wake, professor emeritus of zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, and many others is featured. (41 minutes)"

Only 200 years ago, 400 million acres of the United States were covered in lush grass-and nearly a third of it was more than ten feet high. Graced by beautiful nature photography, this program travels to the Midwest to study what remains of the American prairie: its geological origins, its life cycle as an ecosystem, its flora and fauna, the changes wrought by America's westward expansion, and reclamation efforts targeted at saving this precious biome. Interviews with a historian, a biologist from the Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge, and representatives of the USDA's soil lab and The Nature Conservancy provide additional insights. A Discovery Channel Production. (53 minutes)