Unit 731: Did Emperor Hirohito Know?

TVS TELEVISION LIMITED

Among the worst of the many atrocities committed during World War II were the germ warfare experiments by Japanese doctors with British and American prisoners of war as the guinea pigs. The germ warfare unit, code-named Unit 731, was set up in Manchuria and allegedly had secret Imperial approval. This shocking and powerful program examines a story kept secret for half a century, documenting the events and the people and tracking the deals made and the dirty secrets that finally emerged. (52 minutes)

Water Babies

Electric Sky

Did the ancestors of the human race go through a crucial semi-aquatic phase? This balanced program examines the latest evidence that water played a major role in human evolution and assesses how it stands up to the traditional Savanna Theory proposed by Darwin. Preeminent critics and adherents of the Aquatic Ape Theory discuss such key points as humans' unique diving reflex and voluntary breath control; the connection between brain development and long-chain fatty acids found in marine foods; links with schizophrenia research; and the fossil record. (29 minutes)

Africa: In Defiance of Democracy

Journeyman Pictures

Throughout Africa, democracy has long been touted as the cure for the continent's ongoing unrest. But can such a form of government flourish in countries where extreme poverty is the norm and violence is the chief tool of statecraft? Spanning the continent from Libya to South Africa, this program seeks to understand Africa's complex political situations, addressing the "Big Man" syndrome and the one-party state, the destabilizing effects of armed conflict, the mismanagement of industry and natural resources, and strained relations with the industrialized world. (56 minutes)

Your Immune System

Cambridge Educational

Every day is a new battle for the human body as microscopic intruders try to muscle their way in. What specialized cells and organs are there to resist them? This program clearly and concisely maps out the complicated human immune system, explaining both how it keeps the body healthy and what happens to the body if it malfunctions—or, even worse, if it shuts down completely. Beginning with the body’s nonspecific defenses, composed of the skin, tears, mucus, saliva, and stomach acid, the program then digs into the details of the specific defenses: the lymphatic system, the thymus gland, the spleen, and bone marrow. Three distinct types of white blood cells are classified, and the complexities of the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses are carefully sorted out. The program also describes a number of problems with the human immune system, running the gamut from allergies to AIDS. Vaccines and antibiotics are also discussed, as is the growing danger of bacterial resistance to current medicines. The effects of major histocompatibility complexes on transplanted organs are considered as well. Previously sold individually. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (28 minutes)

Rainforest Biomes

Cambridge Educational

At one time, lush, steaming jungles covered much of the planet’s land mass. Through this program, students can expand their understanding of rainforests and how their inhabitants live. Particular attention is given to the factors that threaten these incredibly rich ecosystems, home to more than half of the different kinds of animals and plants that live on Earth. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (20 minutes)

The Development of the Human Brain

Eolis Productions

This program follows the physiological development of the human brain from conception through the growth of the neurological system in utero, to the moment of birth, when an amazing variety of brain functions are already apparent. The camera continues to follow a child to the age of eight, as a whole range of motor and cognitive skills appears-some as simple as focusing the eyes, others as complex as playing the piano. (48 minutes)

Circulation, Respiration, and Breathing

Digital Rights Group Limited

This program examines how oxygen and carbon dioxide are transported throughout the body, guided by the brain as it reacts to internal and external stimuli. The process of breathing is modeled by a swimmer, the control of breathing by the brain is analyzed, and oxygen intake by the lungs and transport by red blood cells are discussed. The complementary actions of the circulatory and respiratory systems to meet the body's energy needs are identified, and anaerobic respiration and oxygen debt are addressed. The internal structure of the heart is displayed. And the special properties of cardiac muscle tissue are outlined. The effects of smoke inhalation on the lungs from cigarettes and a house fire are also considered. (20 minutes)

Homeostasis

Digital Rights Group Limited

This program investigates how the body controls its internal environment. The steady state of the Earth’s biosphere is compared to that of the human body. An automated greenhouse and a computerized inventory system demonstrate how negative feedback loops use detection and response to maintain their own balanced states. The regulation of body temperature in response to extreme heat and cold is explored both in a sauna and on a mountain slope. The roles of the pancreas and liver in controlling blood glucose levels are described. And the control of water concentration at the cellular level and waste filtration via the kidneys are explained. The impact of alcohol consumption on temperature regulation and water management is also considered. (20 minutes)

Environmental Illness: Bad Chemistry

KQED

Perfumes, aerosols, plastic on television sets-for some people, these everyday chemicals may create health problems ranging from headaches, to breathing difficulties, to loss of consciousness. This program examines the medical and political dimensions of Environmental Illness (EI)-the controversial and mysterious condition whose victims cannot tolerate common chemicals of modern life. Clinical ecologists, a new breed of doctors specializing in EI, believe the condition may result from damage to the immune system caused by exposure to the chemicals that saturate our environment and by overuse of antibiotics. But other physicians do not recognize EI as a medical condition and condemn those who treat it as "cult practitioners." The dispute has given rise to political action, involving government agencies at the city, state, and federal level, and heated in-fighting in the medical profession. EI sufferers are caught in the middle. (60 minutes)

The Bottom Line: Privatizing the World

Filmoption International

Some call it a winner-take-all opportunity. Others call it the exploitation of scarcity in its most extreme form. This program challenges big business's alarming rush to commodify the world's common resources-things as basic to life as drinkable water and human genes. Proponents of the common good square off against promoters of "business as usual," speaking out on controversial issues including exporting water from Canada, creating hybrid crop seeds and imposing their use on farmers, patenting the BRCA1 gene sequence, fighting against the free dispensing of generic versions of patented HIV medications, and drafting international trade agreements that create negative precedents that override existing environmental laws. (53 minutes)

Genes on Trial: Genetics, Behavior, and the Law-A Fred Friendly Seminar

Fred Friendly Seminars

Could genetic research stigmatize people who carry a “bad” gene? Could their behavior actually be determined by that gene? If so, then just how free is free will? Moderated by Harvard Law School’s Charles Ogletree, this Fred Friendly Seminar scrutinizes social, ethical, and legal issues involving genetic research into undesirable traits such as addiction to alcohol by exploring the relationship between the genetic basis for addiction and the limits of personal responsibility. Panelists include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer; journalist Gwen Ifill, managing editor of Washington Week in Review; high-profile attorney Johnnie Cochran, Jr.; Alan McGowan, president of The Gene Media Forum; Patricia King, Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Law, Medicine, Ethics, and Public Policy at the Georgetown University Law Center; and David Goldman, chief of the Laboratory of Neurogenetics at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (58 minutes)

Inside Cells: Cells and Their Organelles

ClickView Pty Limited

Take your biology students on a tour of an unusual art museum—the "Cell Gallery." Using electron microscope images and entertaining graphics, this program walks viewers through the basic components of a cell. The tour looks in detail at the structure and function of cellular organelles, including cell membranes, nuclei, mitochondria, chloroplasts, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticula, ribosomes, lysosomes, vacuoles, cytoplasm, cytosol and cytoskeleton, microtubules and microfilaments, and the Golgi complex. The program also covers the importance of internal cellular membranes and compares the relative sizes of the different organelles. (29 minutes)

Endangered: Biodiversity and Economic Development-A Fred Friendly Seminar

National Association of Home Builders

Year by year the tourist trade has dwindled in fictional Pingwah Falls, leaving the town practically bankrupt. When a plan was unveiled for a modern resort, everyone's hopes rose...until they learned the land is home to a threatened species of bird. In this Fred Friendly Seminar moderated by Harvard Law School's Arthur Miller, panelists including former county supervisor Tom Mullen; Christopher Williams, of the World Wildlife Fund; Kieran Suckling, of the Center for Biological Diversity; Thomas McGill, of Michael Brandman Associates; and seven others try to determine what sacrifices should be made in the name of biodiversity-and who should make them. (60 minutes)

Men Don't Cry: Prostate Cancer Stories

MundoVision

When Oscar-winning documentarist John Zaritsky started directing this program, he had no idea he was about to be diagnosed with prostate cancer himself. Men Don't Cry tells the intimate stories of Greenpeace cofounder Bob Hunter and two other patients as they come to terms with the disease. Each, with the support of his spouse, chooses to fight it in his own way, balancing treatment options, rates of cure and survival, and quality-of-life concerns about impotence and incontinence. A video that is as human as it is candid, Men Don't Cry reinforces the importance of PSA screening to catch the disease early. Contains clinically explicit language. (48 minutes)

Reporting on Terrorism: The News Media and Public Health-A Fred Friendly Seminar

Fred Friendly Seminars

How should the news media prepare for and cope with a potential bioterrorist attack? In this Fred Friendly Seminar, Professor Michael Dorf of the Columbia University School of Law and 12 panelists role-play a hypothetical scenario that begins in a city hospital where a spike in a flu-like illness causes the ER staff to confront a chilling possibility: that it is not the flu at all, but something far worse. What should the ER do with the overflow of patients? Send them home? What if they are contagious? When does bioterrorism become a possible cause? When should the health department be contacted? When will the public find out, and what will their reaction be? What is the job of the journalists covering this story? Should they report the story when the health department is uncertain of the diagnosis but rumors are flying and the public is clamoring for information? A lively panel wrestles with these and a host of other dilemmas. Panelists include Douglas Clifton, editor of The Plain Dealer (Cleveland); Jerome Hauer, former acting assistant secretary for public health emergency preparedness at the Department of Health and Human Services; Joseph Henderson, associate director of terrorism preparedness at the CDC; Seattle Chief of Police R. Gil Kerlikowske; Paula Madison, president and general manager of KNBC-TV, in L.A.; Boston Mayor Thomas Menino; Lewis Nelson, M.D., of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Bellevue Hospital; Frank Sesno, former Washington bureau chief of CNN; and Kathleen Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Division of Public Health at the Georgia Department of Human Resources. Additional resources are located online at www.fredfriendly.org. (58 minutes)

The Origins of Darwin's Theory

Fremantle Home Entertainment

Sir Andrew Huxley-grandson of Darwin's great defender, Thomas Huxley-describes Darwin's motivations, discoveries, and search for a logical theory to explain his observations of both geological and biological evidence in South America, focusing on Darwin's importance as the first to present strong, scientific evidence for descent with modification and to posit a plausible mechanism for its occurrence, namely natural selection. (26 minutes)

The Evolution of Human Purpose

Fremantle Home Entertainment

All other life forms except humans exist to propagate themselves and pass on their genes; humans alone work to other ends. In this lecture, Richard Dawkins distinguishes between the result of eons of natural selection which has resulted in, say, a bird's tail, whose purpose is to enable the bird to fly-purpose with a survival value-and deliberate design, like an airplane's tail. Dawkins shows the relationship between the two in explaining the evolution of human purpose. (26 minutes)

Individual Differences: Gender, Training, and Physical Performance in Sport

ClickView Pty Limited

Why are some able to perform tremendous physical tasks, while others cannot? More specifically, why are males able to perform in ways females cannot? This program answers these questions and more by examining and calculating various indicators of physical fitness: percentage body fat, upper body size and strength, VO2 maximum, stroke volume, heart rate, cardiac output, hemoglobin and red blood cell count, and arteriovenous oxygen difference. An ideal anatomical and physiological learning resource for students and teachers of physical education. (27 minutes)

All About Us: The Human Genome

Nightline

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)

Episode 1: Family, Friends, and Lovers (This Emotional Life)

PBS

What activities in the brain lay the foundation for social interaction? Does brain activity have anything to do with why some relationships flourish and others fail? This program looks at the science behind human connections, and the importance of those connections to emotional well-being. Viewers meet a young boy adopted from a Russian orphanage whose lack of nurturing in infancy now affects his ability to build relationships; a couple in counseling for a troubled marriage; a teen who was bullied, with tragic consequences; and two women grappling with the stress of workplace conflicts. Distributed by PBS Distribution. A part of the series This Emotional Life. (114 minutes)

Alien Invaders

Northwest Film Center

This video explains the problem and its possible solutions through a compelling futuristic drama reminiscent of Hollywood science fiction. Viewers meet a time traveler from the eco-distressed distant future who returns to the present to find out what went wrong. Through her work with a young scientist, viewers learn how species invasions occur, about their impact and control, and how citizens at the local level can make a difference. A terrific aid for science teachers who want to bring this important and timely topic into the classroom. (30 minutes)

Bowel and Bladder Retraining

Nevco Educational Video Inc

With a strong emphasis on client dignity and quality of life, this program provides information on normal bladder and bowel function, physiological changes in the abdomen that occur with aging, common types of bladder and bowel incontinence, practical techniques to help control involuntary urination and defecation, and the nursing assistant’s role in the assessment of incontinence and the retraining of elderly people to manage it. Designated for 2 contact hours of continuing nursing education. A viewable/printable facilitator's guide is available online. (27 minutes)

Osteoarthritis

Information Television Network (ITN)

Dolores relies on synovial fluid injections and physical therapy to overcome the osteoarthritis that at one time put an end to her hiking. George, diagnosed with degenerative arthritis, opted for hip replacement surgery before returning to the ski slopes. A new set of knees was the answer for Del, after having suffered a series of sports injuries while in college. In this program, viewers are introduced to the risk factors, symptoms, and treatments of osteoarthritis, with a special look at how the disorder affects people with an active lifestyle. Commentary from medical experts rounds out this video about the number one disabling disease for people over the age of 40. (26 minutes)

Steroids: Big Muscles, Bigger Problems

Cambridge Educational

A lot of time, energy, and media coverage has been spent trying to figure out which high-profile athletes have or have not used steroids, and whether or not the users still belong in the record books. Lost in the shuffle is the story of the damage that steroids can cause, not just to celebrity sports stars but to everyday young people—including teenage girls, the fastest-growing demographic group of steroid users in America. Hosted by ESPN.com reporter Tom Murray, this video brings hard facts, straight talk, and inconvenient truths to the problem of steroid use among male and female teenagers. It illustrates the biochemical basics of anabolic steroids and their synthetic relationship to testosterone; their general impact on the human anatomy and how they can be especially devastating in young people whose bodies aren’t fully developed; and the specific medical risks of steroid use, both in the short term and over an extended period. The psychological risks, most notably suicidal depression, are also presented, in addition to the little-known fact that many over-the-counter diet supplements are spiked with anabolic steroids. Essential viewing for any health, guidance, or physical education program. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (25 minutes)

The Human Body Video Clip Collection

QA International

As amazing as it is complex, the human body is a marvel of biological machinery! This collection of 52 video clips (30 seconds to 2 minutes, 30 seconds each) combines high-quality film footage and detailed animations to take a close-up look at the body’s building blocks, the architecture of the body, the nervous system, the five senses, blood circulation, respiration and nutrition, and reproduction. Video clips include: • The Body’s Building Blocks—Introduction • The Human Cell • Chromosomes and DNA • Cellular Activity • Body Tissues • The Architecture of the Body—Introduction • The Skin • Bone Structure • Bone Growth • The Skeleton • The Head • The Spine • The Hand and the Foot • The Joints • The Muscles • Muscle Tissue • The Nervous System—Introduction • The Neurons • The Central Nervous System • The Cerebrum • The Nerves • The Motor Functions of the Nervous System • The Five Senses—Introduction • Touch • Sight • Hearing • Balance • Taste • Smell • Blood Circulation—Introduction • Blood • The Cardiovascular System • The Blood Vessels • The Heart • The Lymphatic System • Immunity • The Endocrine System • The Urinary System • Respiration and Nutrition—Introduction • Respiration • Speech • The Digestive System • The Teeth • The Stomach • The Intestines • The Liver, Pancreas, and Gallbladder • Reproduction—Introduction • The Male Genital Organs • The Female Genital Organs • Fertilization • The Life of the Embryo • Maternity (65 minutes)

Guinea Worm: Kill or Cure, Series 3

SW Pictures LTD

Lurking in stagnant pools and muddy watering holes, the guinea worm easily gets into the food chain—and, because it is frighteningly invulnerable to stomach acids and the human immune system, it is next to impossible to remove from the body. But now, scientists are on the verge of eradicating the parasite, humanity’s oldest and largest nematode enemy. This program journeys to Sudan, the country most affected by the Guinea worm, where its impact, along with the traditional and arduous method of removing the creature, is demonstrated. Viewers are also shown how the apparent end of the Sudanese civil war is an opportunity to put new health care and clean-water programs into action.

River Blindness: Kill or Cure, Series 2

SW Pictures LTD

While mosquito-borne diseases like malaria emerge from stagnant ponds and puddles, it is fast-running water, in conjunction with the blood-sucking black fly, that creates a breeding ground for river blindness. Black flies carry a microscopic nematode larva that, thanks to a penny-sized nodule under the skin, can be easily detected after it has grown and reproduced inside a human host, but not so easily defeated. This program visits an isolated village in Cameroon where river blindness has struck again and again. Despite the tragedy, the community is becoming a model for a program that distributes and tracks compliance with Mectizan, a drug that kills the young worms but must be taken for years.

Are We Still Evolving?

BBC Worldwide Learning

Assume, for the sake of argument, that our species has created everything it needs—all the comfort and protection that technology can provide. Does that mean our biological evolution has come to an end? Not necessarily, says anatomist and anthropologist Alice Roberts. In fact, technology may be driving human evolution, and at breakneck speed. Dr. Roberts meets scientists who are detecting and analyzing recent changes in the human genome and visits other researchers who have been able to, in effect, alter the development of some plant and animal species. In addition, the program examines the highly significant role of disease in evolution and the possibility that humanity could evolve into two distinct species. A BBC Production. (50 minutes)

Introduction to Life Science

Cambridge Educational

Launch 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)

Life Processes of Plants

Cambridge Educational

What are these alien life forms living among us? They’re…plants! This video investigates the major differences—and some striking similarities—between plants and animals in the areas of what they consume, how they breathe, and how they reproduce. Plant evolution, cell structure, the photosynthesis/respiration cycle, flowering and nonflowering plants, and sexual and asexual reproduction are covered. 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. (17 minutes)

Interdependence of Life

Cambridge Educational

On planet Earth, no living thing is an island. This video identifies the world’s ecosystems as it explains the flow of energy and the cycling of matter within them. Terms such as biosphere and biome, biotic and abiotic, autotrophs (producers) and heterotrophs (consumers), and the food web are defined, and ecology and conservation as fields of study are explored. Rain forests serve as a timely and powerful example of the interdependence of life at the global level—and the devastating worldwide effects of deforestation. 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. (22 minutes)

The Evolution of Plants

Allegro Productions.

This Science Screen Report explores ways in which plants have evolved since moving from sea to land approximately 400 million years ago. The program describes how the evolution of vascular systems made terrestrial life possible and how plants with woody stems evolved into trees. With wide-ranging examples, including the Venus flytrap, the Wollemi Pine, and the giant sequoia, the video explains how different adaptations enable plants to reproduce, obtain nutrients, withstand fire, and ward off predators. It also covers basic botanical concepts such as photosynthesis, pollination, and germination. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. Correlates to National Science Education Standards. Produced in association with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and the Junior Engineering Technical Society. (15 minutes)

Ecology: Life at the Edge of the Sea

Allegro Productions.

This Science Screen Report explores the challenges that marine plants and animals face in rocky shoreline areas, and vividly illustrates the diversity of those life forms. Examining crustaceans, gastropods, mollusks, and other shoreline creatures, the program shows how tide pools form a marine sub-habitat, and how rocky shore dwellers have evolved specific abilities to survive powerful waves and gather food from the ebb and flow of tides. The medicinal value of certain tidal zone organisms is also discussed in detail. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. Produced in association with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and the Junior Engineering Technical Society. (25 minutes)

Endangered Animals: The Battle Against Extinction

Allegro Productions.

This Science Screen Report explains how biologists help endangered species. It highlights captive breeding techniques that have strengthened populations of Malayan tapirs and southern white rhinos; it also examines the artificial insemination of giant pandas and the teaching of survival skills to orphaned orangutans. Emphasizing that humans can learn and benefit from these experiences-for instance, several innovative ways to communicate with animals are illustrated-this program provides concrete examples of prodigious advances in zoology. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. Produced in association with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and the Junior Engineering Society. (14 minutes)

The Wollemi Pine: A Tree from the Age of Dinosaurs

Allegro Productions.

This Science Screen Report studies the Wollemi Pine, its 100-million-year history, and the methods used to protect and sustain it. Describing the tree's physical characteristics, its unusual way of propagating, and the medically valuable fungi that grow on its leaves and stems, the program explains how this living organism closely resembles fossils of long-extinct species, and how seed gathering, forest management, and other procedures can help ensure the Wollemi's survival. Biology students will find valuable information on tree ring studies, DNA research, and seedling distribution in the program. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. Produced in association with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and the Junior Engineering Technical Society. (14 minutes)

Brain Sex

BBC Worldwide Learning

Busting some gender-related beliefs while supporting others, this program shows that brain chemistry doesn't fit neatly into male and female categories. Five men and five women are put through scientific experiments, exploring major sex-related brain functions-including emotional recognition, empathy, competition, communication, and basic cognition. Candid camera sessions reveal male and female attitudes and behaviors that correspond to the test results-while a scientist studies the brains of a couple who constantly disagree, searching for clues in their neural activity that will help explain communication difficulties. A BBCW Production. (51 minutes.)

Love

BBC Worldwide Learning

Science tells us a lot about sex, but what can it tell us about love? This program highlights research on the neurochemistry and psychology of love, suggesting ways to improve-and even salvage-long-term relationships. Four couples undergoing various types of relationship stress are put through a battery of experiments, while a team of research scientists try to determine the physiological and neurological factors that make love last. In the most daunting stress test that many couples will ever face, the scientists discover unique biochemical reactions to conflict and create a communication-building plan designed to turn troubled relationships around. A BBCW Production. (51 minutes)

Hookworm: Kill or Cure, Series 2

SW Pictures LTD

Estimated to infect about one-fifth of the world’s population, worm parasites are especially destructive in poor, rural areas of the developing world. This program focuses on the hookworm, a particularly stealthy and resilient invader of the human body. Examining the insidious methods by which hookworms enter and endanger their hosts, the video explores what medical science is doing to combat the spread of hookworm infestation—with special attention to young children and pregnant women, for whom these tiny stowaways are particularly dangerous. Commentary from renowned parasitologist Dr. Peter Hotez emphasizes key medical concepts.

MRSA: Kill or Cure, Series 2

SW Pictures LTD

Many people in Britain now fear hospitalization almost as much as injury or illness, due to a rising rate of hospital-related staph infections. This program examines the threat posed by MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and assesses the medical establishment’s ability to fight it. Two divergent perspectives are featured: from doctors who perform every anti-MRSA procedure available, and from hospital patients who have nevertheless become infected. Meanwhile, experiments under way at the Royal Botanic Gardens—directed by Professor Monique Simmonds, an expert on the antimicrobial properties of fungi—suggest the potential to one day defeat MRSA.

The Gene Machine

Agency for Instructional Technology

Expanding on the subject of DNA, this intro-level program explores the central processes that govern the continuation of all life. Beginning with a discussion of Watson and Crick's pivotal 1953 paper describing the structure of DNA and its possible role in heredity, the program describes Crick's collaboration with Sydney Brenner in solving the DNA-to-protein puzzle and the role of RNA in protein synthesis. Mutagenic agents, restriction enzymes and plasmids, and the use of bacteria as model systems for genetic engineering are explored. The film also highlights the emergence of controversy resulting from genetic experimentation with higher organisms. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. (30 minutes)

Blood Is Life

Jane Balfour Films

Every second, 2.5 million red blood corpuscles are formed in our bodies; in their 120-day life expectancy, each will cover about 250 miles in our blood vessels. In the course of a human’s life, 200,000 tons of blood are pumped through the body, supplying each individual cell with its necessities, removing waste products, and playing a critical defensive role in warding off foreign cells. That we can survive tropical heat and arctic cold with a relatively constant working temperature is only possible because of our blood. This program provides a thorough introduction to our blood. (45 minutes)

Family

Sound Image Broadcast Sales

In the animal world, as in our own, the family unit and social structure are crucial to survival. Animal alliances are as important for caring and sharing as for hunting and killing. Like animals, humans depend on social groups—from the small-scale family unit to a large organization such as the United Nations. By comparing human relationships with perceived animal parallels, this program offers an interesting insight into our shared world.

The Anatomy of Laughter

Muse Distribution International

What happens in our brains when we think something is funny? Is laughter a form of self-defense? Can a joke be scientifically analyzed? This program studies the human response to humor from a physiological and psychological standpoint. Highlighting the importance of vocal cords in producing laughter, the program contrasts human and simian forms of humor and gives viewers an evolutionary perspective on laughter's role in cooperation and adaptation. Also featured are interviews with comedians-one teenaged, the other 92 years old-who demonstrate basic joke mechanics, while doctors and patients express varying degrees of skepticism about laughter's healing power. (49 minutes)

The Anatomy of Crying

Muse Distribution International

Humans may be the only species to shed tears. Does that make crying a strictly human act? This program explores the deep well of animal instinct that, shaped by eons of evolution, still informs our expression of grief, fear, anger, and even joy. Focusing on the development of distress signals in early hominid infant behavior, the program investigates differences in crying between adults and children, men and women, and Western and non-Western cultures. The three varieties of tears-basal, irritant, and emotional-and their chemical makeup are identified, evoking a link between emotional release, the secretion of certain proteins, and the human body's metabolism. (49 minutes)

Viruses

Elsevier GMBH

Viruses are the simplest forms of life-so primitive in biological terms that for some years the scientific community debated whether they should even be regarded as living organisms. This program examines how viruses, though incapable of reproducing outside of living cells, have developed refined strategies for reconfiguring the host organism into one that serves exclusively as a virus breeder. Sophisticated computer graphics and microscopy allow viewers to watch as these resourceful parasites seek out, damage, or kill the invaded host. (33 minutes)

The Sixth Extinction: The Human Role

New Atlantis

The five extinctions that have impacted the Earth over the past 400 million years—the Ordovician-Silurian, Late Devonian, Permian-Triassic, End Triassic, and Cretaceous-Tertiary—may be set to include another one on a massive scale. This alarming program assesses the extent to which Homo sapiens is provoking the planet’s sixth extinction. According to scientists, wholesale destruction of habitats by humans contributes to the disappearance of 27,000 species each year. With decimation proceeding at such a rate, how long can life on Earth survive? Interviews with Oxford University zoologist Richard Dawkins, Harvard biologist Andrew Knoll, and Sussex University paleontologist Richard Fortney are featured. (52 minutes)

Functions of the Face

Allegro Productions.

This Science Screen Report describes the anatomy and functions of facial features, and the evolutionary development of the human face. It explains how the mouth and nose work together to identify food, the process of chewing and swallowing, and the varying functions of the taste buds, saliva, teeth, tongue, and jaws. Combining principles in anatomy, anthropology, psychology, and zoology, the program also details how muscles in the face convey expressions and emotions, how humans and computers recognize faces and expressions, and how the aesthetics of attractiveness can be linked to facial symmetry. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. Correlates to National Science Education Standards. Produced in association with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and the Junior Engineering Technical Society. (26 minutes)

The Cure: Heart Disease and Anti-cholesterol Drugs

American Public Television (APT)

Drugs that can cure cardiovascular disease, rather than simply slowing cholesterol buildup, are currently in development. This program examines the history of anti-cholesterol drug production, as well as current biochemical research that might lead to the eradication of heart attacks and strokes. Describing scientific studies of isolated populations—most notably the inhabitants of Limone, Italy, where a genetic mutation has produced a natural cure for arterial plaque accumulation—the video also investigates the extraordinary level of competition that exists among pharmaceutical companies racing to create lifesaving chemical compounds. (55 minutes)

Double Helix

BBC Worldwide Learning

This fast-paced dramatization starring well-known actor Jeff Goldblum is about the race to solve one of the greatest mysteries of 20th-century science—the structure of DNA. It is the story of the diligent research, creative analysis, and perseverance of James Watson and Francis Crick that led to the discovery. With the help of their colleague, Maurice Wilkins, they also earned the 1962 Nobel Prize. Students of biology and genetics will benefit from the process of problem solving used to identify the structure of DNA, as well as the clear, concise summary of research evidence. A BBCW Production. (108 minutes)

A World without Polio

10 Francs

Despite the development of vaccines, polio still finds opportunities to thrive. This program outlines the history of humanity's battle with the virus-including its appearance in ancient Egypt and the 20th-century struggle against it championed by FDR. The video also highlights the present-day efforts of health organizations and charitable groups to globally eradicate the disease. Interviews with UNICEF and WHO leaders accompany scenes from vaccination campaigns in the African nation of Burkina Faso and in Aligarh, India. The program emphasizes the need to work within local cultural conventions in order to maximize communication and outreach. (54 minutes)

Designer Babies: The Dangers of Corporate Genetics

Journeyman Pictures

Imagine a future in which physical strength and assertiveness are the top-selling items on "baby menus." This program explores that possibility and other frightening implications of market-driven genetic engineering. Showing how the government-funded Human Genome Project has become highly lucrative for pharmaceutical companies, the video examines cases of exploitative gene harvesting in Iceland and Peru, where isolated ethnic populations contain commercially valuable DNA. Interviews with prominent scientists and activists highlight the dangers of patenting genomic data and an absence of public discourse about artificial gene selection. (60 minutes)

The DNA Obsession

Agency for Instructional Technology

One of the most important stories in genetics is the race to understand DNA. This intro-level program guides viewers through that story, focusing on the biological and chemical processes central to the transfer of genetic material. Beginning in the middle of the 19th century, the program describes how competing scientists in Europe and America zeroed in on the DNA molecule and determined its structure. Friedrich Miescher's identification of "nuclein," Frederick Griffith's pneumococcus studies, Joshua Lederberg's analysis of bacteria reproduction, and James Watson and Francis Crick's double-helix configuration highlight the obsession, rivalry, and collaboration that drive scientific discovery. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. (30 minutes)

Fighting the Microbes: The History of Antibiotics

Danish Broadcasting Corporation

The prescription of antibiotics is a medical tightrope walk. The drugs save lives, but, because of overuse, may soon usher in a new era of super germs. This program outlines the discoveries of bacteria and penicillin and sheds light on the frightening emergence of multiresistant, often deadly microbes during the last six decades. Presenting interviews with researchers who are deeply involved with the issue—including Tufts University microbiology professor Stuart Levy and Eva Nathanson of the World Health Organization’s Stop TB Program—the film examines the implications of antibiotic-enhanced livestock feed and the dangers that staphylococcus poses to hospital patients. Viewer discretion is advised. Contains footage of injections, surgeries, and open wounds. (30 minutes)

Muscles

ITV

In this program, the diverse nature of muscle tissue is examined, from its gross structure to its detailed microstructure, where chemical energy is harnessed to produce movement. As muscle forms the basis for much of a person's body shape, we explore the ways in which this shape can be changed by the activities we perform. The program provides a complete introduction to the following topics: • Location and uses of smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscles • Muscle structure and function • Aerobic and anaerobic respiration • Relationship between muscle mass and body shape • Neuromuscular disease • Physical fitness (20 minutes)

Genetic Engineering, Part 1: How DNA Works

University of Leeds

Any discussion of genetic engineering first requires a knowledge of how organisms replicate. In this program, Dr. David Cove describes the structure and function of DNA as he covers how coding sequences and promoters work together to create proteins from amino acids. DNA's remarkable suitability as a medium for duplicating the blueprints of life both rapidly and accurately in a simple yet precise language is emphasized. (16 minutes)

Practical Applications and Risks of Genetic Science

A.D.A.M. Software

This program discusses the Human Genome Project, gene-related medical research, and beneficial and potentially dangerous applications of genetic technology both to humans and to plants. Efforts to fight disease through gene therapy and recombinant DNA technology are addressed, as well as research into genetically controlling cancer and organ transplant rejection. The risks of agricultural over-hybridization through genetic engineering and cloning are also explored, as well as the ethical and biological issues surrounding human cloning, alteration of the human genome, and gene warfare. (24 minutes)

Overcoming Problems with Bladder, Bowels, and Swallowing

Animated Biomedical Production

This program addresses disability-related concerns that are matters of not only a person's health but dignity as well. The two types of long-term bladder problems-disinhibited and paralyzed bladder-are discussed, along with their management. The reasons for constipation and the different types of laxatives are explained, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the bedpan and commode. Various techniques are demonstrated for dealing with swallowing problems, and tips are provided on how to assist a person in eating. (27 minutes)

Dreams: Theater of the Night

KCET TV

Why do dreams occur? What is their function? What do they mean? This provocative program looks at the facts and examines the theories, from Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams to today's neuroscience laboratory findings. The program visits a sleep research lab to explain REM sleep; another lab where researchers are using positron emission tomography (PET scanning) to explore the dreaming brain; and a therapy session where a patient describes a recurring dream. It covers a variety of theories about the physiological, chemical, and psychological reasons for, and results of dreams. (28 minutes)

The Omnivore: Satisfying Humanity's Hunger

TVA Films

Hunger is one of the biological drives essential to the survival of the human species. Constantly in search of something to eat, humanity has invented societal structures and means of conservation in an effort to ensure an adequate supply of food. This program traces the history of humankind's efforts to satiate the need to feed, from hunting and gathering, to agriculture and animal husbandry, to barter and commerce. And going beyond simple subsistence, the use of eating as a social ritual and pastime of gourmands is also addressed. (48 minutes)

Regaining Control: Days Seven and Eight

Nightline

At the peak of the terrorist anthrax attack, more than 500 people per hour were dying, hospitals were filled to capacity, basic services were breaking down, looting had begun, and space to store the dead was running out. In this program-part two of a hypothetical scenario-ABC News anchor Ted Koppel presents two successive reports, plotting out the progress of the fictional biological attack on days seven and eight as it was finally brought under control. The price for unpreparedness? Over 50,000 dead. (40 minutes)

Epidemic! A Fred Friendly Seminar

Fred Friendly Seminars

Quick to spread and develop resistance to medical intervention, new strains of microbes pose a growing threat to global health. How does overuse of antibiotics actually encourage more lethal strains of diseases believed to be conquered? How can the media successfully inform the public without causing panic? And should personal rights be curtailed during epidemics? This Fred Friendly Seminar, moderated by Harvard Law School's Arthur Miller, examines the biological, ecological, and cultural factors influencing the causes, spread, and control of infectious diseases. Panelists include Nobel Laureate Joshua Lederberg; David Kessler, former chairman of the FDA; Robert Moellering, Jr., of Harvard Medical School; C. J. Peters, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and others. A Discussion Guide and other resources are located online at www.fredfriendlyseminars.org/epidemic. (57 minutes)

Bioterror: The Invisible Threat

Deutsche Grammophon GmbH

In the arsenal of terrorism, biological weapons, particularly anthrax, have many compelling characteristics. In this program, leading experts from both the U.S. and the former Soviet Union provide chilling commentary on why bioterrorism is likely to become a global threat, citing recent incidents as well as the once-classified results of a 1966 joint U.S. Army/CIA bio-weapon experiment conducted in the New York City subway. Dramatizations of simulated terrorist attacks and laboratory techniques bring home the relative ease of manufacture and extreme lethality of these weapons. (49 minutes)

IQ and the Pressure to Perform

Digital Rights Group Limited

From prenatal Mozart to hothousing, the debate surrounding intelligence and how it is best cultivated is a controversial one. But is there really an optimal window of opportunity for neural development? This program invites John T. Bruer, author of The Myth of the First Three Years; Colin Blakemore, of Oxford University; UCLA's Paul Thompson; Bill Greenough, of the University of Illinois; and David Elkind, professor of child development at Tufts University, among others, to critically examine the myth of critical periods and to look at what the latest scientific research indicates about how the brain develops in the early years and beyond.

Outbreak: Stopping SARS

Digital Rights Group Limited

"WHO Issues a Global Outbreak Alert" "Emergency Travel Advisory" "SARS Spreads Worldwide" When SARS first hit the headlines, it was poised to become a major pandemic. This program shows how vigilant medical professionals save countless lives by tracking and identifying emerging mystery viruses-and stopping them cold with shared knowledge and cutting-edge technology deployed on a global scale. Examination techniques for patients with unknown infectious illnesses are demonstrated, as are diagnostic laboratory tests. The mechanics of coronaviruses are addressed. (25 minutes)

Cutting and Splicing DNA

Actuality Holdings Inc.

This program presents a brief history of genetic science, from Darwin's theory of evolution through the discovery of DNA and the invention of gene splicing. Darwin hypothesized a theory, but understood nothing of the mechanism of evolution. The program follows the history of scientific understanding of the nucleus, chromosomes, and the location of hereditary information; explains the work of Gregor Mendel and Thomas Hunt Morgan; and features exclusive interviews with James Watson, who unravelled the secret of DNA's structure, and Stanley Cohen, who first spliced the gene and created contemporary cloning techniques. Spectacular computer animation displays the beautiful simplicity of the DNA molecule, and reveals how the gene was spliced. (24 minutes)

Rice: A Precious Commodity

ClickView Pty Limited

A staple for over half the world, rice is truly a precious commodity. This program looks at the ubiquitous grain from all angles, offering concise sections on its history, biology, primary production, processing, marketing, and the environmental impact of its farming. In addition, the program highlights the creation of miracle rice strains through breeding or genetic modification and summarizes health and safety issues concerning rice farming and processing. A summary of information follows each section. (31 minutes)

Managing Your Weight

Benjamin Cummings

This program examines the role of exercise, dieting, and other weight control strategies in attaining optimal health while skewering fad diets and risky or useless products, which only serve to undermine healthy weight management. Psychosocial factors that distort views on what constitutes a healthy look and weight are also considered, as young adults explore the dynamics of body image and the issues involved in eating disorders. (29 minutes)

Biotechnology: Friend or Foe?

NRK Production

Genetic science holds the keys to life itself. How should this knowledge be used? Enhanced by outstanding 3-D computer animations and microscopic imaging, this engaging program featuring Dr. Cary Fowler, author of Shattering: Food, Politics, and the Loss of Genetic Diversity, takes a balanced look at the biotechnological revolution. Among the numerous topics surveyed are genetic engineering, cloning, gene therapy, genetically modified food crops, gene patenting, DNA fingerprinting, gene banks, and the use of transgenic animals for organ transplants. An overview of heredity, natural selection, and the mechanics of DNA is provided. (55 minutes)

High-Tech Foods: Is Genetically Engineered Food Safe?

NewsHour Productions

Fast-tracked by the FDA, GMOs-genetically modified organisms-have already deeply penetrated America's food supply. Are they safe? In this program, NewsHour correspondent Paul Solman looks at both sides of the GMO controversy. Agricultural law professor Neil Hamilton, a nutrition consultant, and an independent corn farmer counsel a conservative approach, while economist Dermot Hayes, of Iowa State University, reacts to the unfairness of anti-GMO rhetoric, in which the plants are, in effect, considered guilty until proved innocent. Do the potential benefits of GMOs outweigh the possible risks? (13 minutes)

Bleeding and Coagulation

Wild Projects

This program scrutinizes the human body's intricate and essential mechanism of coagulation. Physiological and pharmaceutical hindrances to coagulation are discussed, along with interventions designed to regulate coagulation and to break down unwanted blood clots. Demonstrative case studies including a partial liver resection due to chronic hepatitis and liver cancer; a closed-skull trauma, ruptured spleen, and contusion of the lungs, complicated by sepsis; and arrhythmia with atrial fibrillation and an atrial thrombus, complicated by hypertension and bleeding in the brain, are included. (31 minutes)

Animalia and Plantae

Cambridge Educational

From the sponge to the giraffe, from mosses to redwoods, this program examines the similarities and differences between the denizens of the animal and plant kingdoms. Distinctive characteristics of plants and animals, including physical structure, methods of reproduction, and life cycle, as well as where they find their food and how they interact with other organisms are discussed. Vivid images underscore the diversity of the phyla, classes, and species within these two kingdoms. A Cambridge Educational Production. (28 minutes)

Genetically Modified Crops: Hope vs. Hype

Nightline

This ABC News program begins with an overview of the controversial new type of crop hybridization known as genetic modification, exploring why the technology has panicked European consumers and has left many American farmers with mixed feelings. Then, correspondent John Donvan moderates a vigorous discussion between Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman; Val Giddings, Vice President of Food and Agriculture at the Biotechnology Industry Organization; and vociferous anti-biotechnology activist Jeremy Rifkin, who debate the value of government and industry testing and the need for package labeling. (22 minutes)

Living with Today's Maladies

Benjamin Cummings

Despite steady advances in medical science, there is still no end to the long list of illnesses in need of treatment. This program examines symptoms and risk factors associated with a wide variety of maladies, including those that derive from the stresses of modern living. Respiratory disorders, such as allergies and chronic bronchitis; neurological problems, including headaches, seizure disorders, and MS; gender-specific diseases; digestive disorders; musculoskeletal problems; and contemporary afflictions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and repetitive stress injuries, are featured. Strategies for prevention and intervention are also explored. (29 minutes)

Hypertension: The Facts

The Royal College of Nursing

This clinical program thoroughly addresses all aspects of hypertension, including risk factors, impact on the vascular system and organs, diagnosis, and treatment through lifestyle modification and pharmaceutical means. Special attention is given to the proper technique for taking blood pressure. In addition, the therapeutic values and side effects of hypertension medicines such as thiazide diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin II receptor antagonists are described. (29 minutes)

Zoonotic Viruses

Information Television Network (ITN)

Rabies, Lyme disease, West Nile virus—all are examples of zoonosis, an infection that can be transmitted to humans from animals. In this program, several experts discuss major zoonotic diseases of concern and outline safety tips for both people and pets. Dr. Wendy Walker, president of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association; Joe Conlon, medical entomologist with the American Mosquito Control Association; and Dr. Michael Zimring, director of the Center for Wilderness and Travel Medicine at Baltimore’s Mercy Medical Center, talk about risk factors, symptoms, prevention, and treatment. (24 minutes)

Forests

Filmoption International

Forests are not just collections of growing trees. A forest is a complex environment, home to thousands of intricately interconnected living species. This program explores three aspects of the forest: the amazing process of photosynthesis, by which plants collect solar energy and convert it into essential compounds; the role of forests in global weather and in maintaining the balance of the biosphere; and the threats to our forests. (23 minutes)

Evolution

Filmoption International

Since Charles Darwin formulated his theory of natural selection, our view of the world has changed. Although Darwin's theory itself has "evolved," scientists agree that living species slowly but surely diverged from common ancestors. This program begins with a segment on fossils, one of the most convincing proofs of evolution. It then retraces the major steps of evolution as they were uncovered by science. It also presents the major theories of evolution. (23 minutes)

Molecular Biology

Elsevier GMBH

This program shows the various types of gene reproduction and examines the gene responsible for blood clotting. The production of coded proteins is clearly demonstrated. The processes of gel filtration, protein sequence analysis, isolation of mRNA, DNA synthesis and reproduction, production and screening of a DNA bank, and hybridization, along with other demonstrations, are re-created through highly sophisticated computer animation. (42 minutes)

Anatomy of the Shoulder

University of Sheffield Learning Media Unit

A ball-and-socket joint capable of a complex range of motion, the shoulder achieves its mobility through the sacrifice of stability, relying on surrounding muscles and tendons for strength. This program presents the technical specifications of the shoulder: what muscles sheathe it, how it functions, and its range of motion. Conditions such as bursitis, tendonitis, dislocation, and fracture of the clavicle are also discussed. (18 minutes)

Anatomy of the Knee

University of Sheffield Learning Media Unit

Although it is a major weight-bearing joint, the knee is surprisingly flexible in all manner of forward, reverse, and lateral motions. This program addresses the intricate mechanics of the knee joint's musculature, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. In addition, traumas to the menisci and the collateral and cruciate ligaments-the most commonly damaged structures-are described. (15 minutes)

Circulatory System: The Plasma Pipeline

Cambridge Educational

This program covers the circulatory system's important roles in transportation, purification, and regulation. Topics include the structure and function of the heart; the role of blood as a connective tissue; arteries, veins, and the flow of blood; the functions of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma; the lymphatic system; and maintaining a healthy circulatory system. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (27 minutes)

Digestive System: Your Personal Power Plant

Cambridge Educational

This program examines the processes by which the digestive system acts as a power plant for the body by turning food into energy. Topics discussed include the process of energy conversion; the structure and function of the organs of the digestive system; the role of enzymes; and maintaining a healthy digestive system. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (34 minutes)

Brain and Nervous System: Your Information Superhighway

Cambridge Educational

This program explores the brain and nervous system, using the analogy of computers and the Internet. Topics discussed include electrical impulses and how nerve messages travel; parts of the brain and their functions; how the brain and spinal cord are protected; the senses; and diseases, drugs, and their effects on the brain and nervous system. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (31 minutes)

Eyes and Ears

Goldcrest Films

This program is devoted to the senses that bring information of more distant events. The camera shows a reckless driver careening down a road-and then takes the viewer inside his eye, where the image of the potential crash site is pictured. The camera enters the ear, showing how the linked bones vibrate in response to a sound, and by using a computer graphic sequence, shows how the eye focuses on an image. (26 minutes)

Cell Functions: A Closer Look

Cambridge Educational

This 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)

Sleep: Dream Voyage

Goldcrest Films

What happens to the body during sleep? This program explores the mystery of REM sleep, shows a computer display of the waves that sweep across the brain during sleep, and presents extraordinary footage of a cat "acting out" its dreams. The analogy of sleep to a ship on automatic pilot graphically illustrates how some functions must and do continue while the conscious brain is asleep. (26 minutes)

A Human Life Emerges

Elsevier GMBH

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)

Muscles and Joints: Muscle Power

Goldcrest Films

This program demonstrates, on a microscopic level, what happens when a kung fu master is at work: how muscles work, how two types of molecules telescoping against each other produce enormous strength as they work in large numbers, how muscles of the heart and digestive tract move without conscious direction. (26 minutes)

Decision

Goldcrest Films

This program shows how the brain coordinates functions to make a simple but lifesaving decision-how the cortex assesses incoming information, sends outgoing messages to the muscles, and stores "maps" of the world and the body; how circuits of nerve cells operate in the brain; and how individual nerve cells function. (26 minutes)

The Circulatory System: Two Hearts That Beat as One

Goldcrest Films

This program describes the structure and functioning of the heart. It analyzes the three basic components of the heart-muscle, valves, and pacemaker-and shows how each one contributes to the proper functioning of the organ as a whole. (26 minutes)

Monoclonal Antibodies

Skillbank Solutions Ltd

Using computer graphics, this program illustrates the difference between monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. It describes how lymphocytes in the bloodstream respond to the appearance of an antigen by producing antibodies to it. Problems with antibodies from the blood are discussed along with Milstein's solution. A step-by-step procedure to obtain stable hybridomas, a hybrid cell produced by the fusion of an antibody-producing lymphocyte with a tumor cell, through the isolation of lymphocytes from the spleen is demonstrated. (25 minutes)

Science in the Courtroom

Institut National de L’Audiovisual

Once a case goes to trial, evidence is put to its greatest test as it undergoes the scrutiny of cross-examination. In this program, Professors Leriche and Cassiman, genetics experts, examine the ability of lucomalakite green to obtain DNA samples from minute quantities of bodily fluids and discuss the RFLP and PCR tests used to analyze them. In addition, the value of serology-forerunner of genetic testing-is explored in relation to the classic 1950s Jaccoud case, along with the impact of DNA polymorphisms as discovered by Dr. Jeffreys in 1984. Ballistics and soil and glass analysis are also discussed, as well as the 1985 Guy-Paul Morin rape investigation and the 1992 Arizona case in which the genetic profile of a tree helped to bring about a conviction. (55 minutes)

The Fight Against Germs: Effective Weapons Against Infection

Deutsche Welle

Because of constant use of disinfectants, a hospital is a place where only the fittest microbes survive, a dilemma that raises the stakes of even routine surgical procedures. This program looks at how germs develop partial or total antibiotic resistance and how researchers are pursuing new lines of attack to keep pace with these highly adaptive organisms. Computer imaging and electron microscopy help illustrate how Legionella bacteria adapt to harsh environments. The program concludes by looking at promising research into symbiotic mechanisms in sea sponges that can repel antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus. A Deutsche Welle Production. (26 minutes)

Tuberculosis: Its Origins and Effects

University of Leeds

This is a detailed medical overview of one of the world’s most feared killers. It uses actual body organs and excellent microscopy to illustrate the lecture. The various types of the disease discussed are primary, secondary, non-pulmonary, open, miliary, and bovine tuberculosis, and Pott’s disease. Subtopics include epithelioid cells, Langhans giant cell, granuloma, hypersensitivity reaction, and casseous necrosis. Tuberculosis meningitis and bronchial tuberculosis are examined as complications of the more basic strains. Vaccines and how they work are also addressed. (17 minutes)

Selection in Action: Natural Selection

Granada Media

This program provides arguments in favor of continental drift and the one-time existence of a supercontinent, shows how isolation can give rise to different species and how species develop in response to their environments, and explains clines and suggests the reason for their existence. After viewing the program, students should understand the significance of the continental drift theory, the purpose of studying inherited variation in isolated populations, and the conclusions about an isolated environment in a species' ancestry that can be drawn from the presence or absence of variation. (20 minutes)

The Human Influence

Granada Media

This program illustrates how natural selection works to enable a species to adapt to adverse environments; shows how human breeding of desirable varieties-which antedates by millennia any theories of genetics or evolution-often overrode natural selection; demonstrates how species can be changed by artificial selection and in response to human interference with the environment; and explains the desirability of preserving the gene pool. After viewing the program, students should understand how environmental changes and artificial selection alter the random variability in a population, how breeders strengthen rather than create variation, and why it is so important to preserve the gene pool. (20 minutes)

Skeletal System: The Infrastructure

Cambridge Educational

This program explores the skeletal system, with an emphasis on its importance in providing structure and support for the body. Topics include how the skeletal and muscular systems work together to enable movement; the relationship between joints and bones; connective tissue; functions of the skeletal system, including support, protection, movement, storage, and blood cell production; and types of bones and joints. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (27 minutes)

The Nature of Biology: An Introduction

Cambridge Educational

Why study biology? What's it all about? Why does it matter? This is the video that helps answer these common questions about biology. Images from the natural world reinforce the sense of wonder and excitement involved in studying life science. Interviews with science professionals help viewers appreciate the impact and value of biology in society. The program is organized around the general themes of biology: Diversity of Life, Heredity, Cells, Interdependence of Life, Flow of Matter and Energy, and Evolution of Life. Through exploring these themes, students gain an understanding of the principles and values of life science. An upbeat introduction to the study of the living environment. A great way to begin a class in the life sciences! A Cambridge Educational Production. One 30-minute video.

Telltale Bodies

Institut National de L’Audiovisual

By refining and expanding on the work of the founders of criminology, today's forensic scientists link crime victims to perpetrators in ways that almost defy belief. In this program, Professor Matile of France's Museum of Natural History; Professor Evenot, expert in odontology; and noted anthropologist Professor Perrot discuss the ways in which microscopy, entomology, dental records, and facial reconstruction help police solve crimes. The classic contributions of Lacassagne to ballistics, Revenstorf to forensic biology, Megnien to forensic entomology, and Guerassimov, who is shown actually doing a facial reconstruction, round out the historical background on these remarkable procedures. (55 minutes)

Chemical Irritants

Information Television Network (ITN)

Chemical irritants can cause a debilitating sensitivity or even a chemical injury. This program examines the all-too-common threat of chemical exposure-often from products and materials found in the average home or office building. Showing how contaminants and irritants can travel through heating and air conditioning ducts, the program highlights a case study in which a woman developed rashes, swelling, and difficulty breathing due to chemicals in her workplace. Another example features a man sickened by a chemical plant near his residence. Expert guests include Dr. Grace Ziem, a prominent occupational medicine specialist, and Alan Cohen of Beyond Pesticides, a nonprofit group that opposes the overuse of pesticides. (25 minutes)