Atoms Alive

Introduces nucleic acids, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. Starts with Earth 4 billion years ago & asks how could the chemicals of life have arisen? A simulation of the famous Stanley Miller experiment is shown. One of the oldest fossils, a stromolite is shown, at the same time as its living descendants. The first biomolecule was probably a self assembling polymer - Nucleic acid. DNA reproduction. Then lipids and their role as cell membranes are discussed. Proteins get the action going - demo of an enzyme reaction.

Overviews cell structure. Begins by distinguishing prokaryotes from eukaryotes and looks at some of the key differences. Are eukaryotes a case of cells within cells? Certain organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts appear to bear out an ancient symbiosis. Coverage of metabolism - anabolism - catabolism. The technique of cell fractionation by centrifuge. The program concludes with a lengthy animated tour of the inside of a typical eukaryotic cell.

Introduces Mendelian genetics and the basic capabilities of DNA. Overview of mitosis and meiosis. A thumbnail sketch of Mendel's key experiment - smooth peas and wrinkled peas. Are chromosomes the Mendelian factors? No. The search for 'genes' finds that DNA is the genetic material. Chemical structure of DNA. How DNA reproduces. Demo of polymerase chain reaction.

Covers how DNA codes for proteins and how it expresses the code. DNA is extracted in the laboratory. DNA codes for proteins. Refresher on proteins and their roles. DNA is a triplet code for proteins. Transcription of Mrna via Trna to polypeptides - all animated. The universal genetic code and a brief demo of how we can read the code in the laboratory.

How genes are controlled or 'regulated'. Cloning versus sexual reproduction. Changes to the DNA - good and bad. If all cells in an organism share the same genome, why aren't they all alike? We look at examples of totipotency. Any random change to a gene is a mutation; good, bad and neutral mutations. Oscar, the blind dog is a case of a double recessive mutated gene. Sexual reproduction mixes genes.

Turns to human experimentation with DNA - moving genes around, recombinant DNA. The ways and outcomes of transferring genes from one organism to another. We begin with an explanation of restriction enzymes, the chemistry that makes recombinant DNA possible. The gene gun is a crude way of transferring DNA. Bacterial plasmid vectors are more sophisticated. They have resulted in biological products made like the production of human insulin via bacterial culture. Gene therapy and cancer. Applications in agriculture.

Looks at DNA fingerprinting and how DNA technology is probing the genome. This program begins with a forensic lab doing DNA fingerprinting. How we read DNA and some of this technology. Finding and creating genes. Starts with a forensic lab doing DNA fingerprinting and how it is done. Accuracy considerations. Limits of nuclear DNA in tracing lineage - usefulness of tracing the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA. Three ways of isolating or constructing genes in the laboratory.

Considers genetic issues, discussing how genetics might play out in the future. People love the idea of genetics curing disease, but they distrust and even fear human cloning, GM foods and human germ line therapy. Why can't we have the genetics we want, but not the genetics we don't want? Problem is it's all the same technology! This program aims to supply information to support discussion of genetic issues. We outline the problems and possibilities of genetic technology, without being judgemental.