Countries: US

This program examines the discovery of viruses and their structure, how viruses are studied, and how they infect their hosts and replicate. Details are provided on the T-4 bacteriophage and retroviruses such as HIV. The bacteria section uses compelling microscopy of living bacteria to examine their structure, physiology, behavior, and the vital roles these microbes play in the biosphere, including oxygen production (cyanobacteria), decomposition and nitrogen fixation. They are also shown as parasites as well as helpful symbionts. Twelve minutes of additional live observation of a variety of bacteria can be used to introduce or recap the lesson or play as visual ambiance during laboratory work.

Modules: Structure and Behavior of the Plasma Membrane, Osmosis, Transport Proteins, Phagocytosis, Pinocytosis, Receptor Mediated Endocytosis, Golgi Function, Lysosomes and Hydrolytic Digestion, Microtubules, Cilia, Actin and Myosin Motor Proteins.

Fungi explores the structure, life cycles, ecology, classifi cation, and evolutionary relationships of four major lines of fungi: Chytrids, Zygomycetes (various molds), Ascomycetes (cup fungi), and Basidiomycetes (mushrooms). Also covered are the fungi imperfecti, a grab bag of asexual species, diffi cult to assign to any of the major lines of fungi evolution.

Photosynthesis Modules: Chloroplast Structure, Light Trapping by Chlorophyll, Light-Dependent Reactions of Photosynthesis, The Light-Independent Reactions of Photosynthesis Respiration Modules: Glycolysis and Fermentation, Mitochondrion Structure, Aerobic Respiration, Krebs Cycle, Electron Transport Chain, ATP synthesis.

Imagine an animal with no mouth, no digestive system, no excretory or circulatory organs, no brain nor nervous system, and no movement as an adult. In spite of their simple nature, sponges are actually one of the most fascinating animal phyla, when viewed in developmental, ecological, and evolutionary terms. Through animations and time-lapse microscopy, this program clarifies the structure, function, classification, and ecological roles of sponges.

Modules: Mitosis: Chromosome Condensation, Mitosis: Stages, Cytokinesis, Meiosis, Nucleotide Structure and Bonding, Replication Enzymes, Replicating the Strands, The Twisting Problem, Proof Reading and Repair.

Echinoderms are one branch of the deuterostome line of animal evolution, the branch to which Chordates also belong. Narrated modules cover phylum characteristic and key biological details for five classes: sea stars; brittle stars and basket stars; sea urchins and sand dollars (including developmental stages); sea cucumbers; and crinoids (feather stars).

Modules: The Protein Nature of Life, Protein Structure, Transcription, Translation and Protein Synthesis, Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes, Classes of Eukaryote DNA, Exons and Introns, Mutations, Renegade DNA – The Viruses.

The Phylum Chordata includes tunicates, sea lancelets, hagfish, and all familiar vertebrate animals. This program explores how these seemingly diverse animals evolved and how the group is unified by four characteristic structures: a hollow dorsal nerve chord, a supportive notochord, gill silts, and a post-anal tail. Key milestones in vertebrate evolution included improvements in swimming and feeding, the evolution of paired fins and a primitive lung, movement onto the land, and the amniotic egg.

The Domains of Life updates the five kingdoms classifications scheme with the latest understanding of life’s organization based on DNA, fossil, and biochemical evidence. The video programs use concise animations and superb microscope footage of primitive cells to describe events that shaped life as we know it today. Includes teacher’s guide.