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Human ancestors in Africa likely had dark skin, which is produced by an abundance of the pigment eumelanin in skin cells. In the high ultraviolet (UV) environment of sub-Saharan Africa, darker skin offers protection from the damaging effects of UV radiation. Dr. Jablonski explains that the variation in skin color that evolved since human ancestors migrated out of Africa can be explained by the tradeoff between protection from UV and the need for some UV absorption for the production of vitamin D.
(Source: DCMP)
Biodiversity, or biological diversity, refers to the variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms that exist. The biodiversity of an environment is important because it helps keep the environment in a natural balance. An ecosystem which is species-rich is more resilient and adaptable to external stress than one in which the range of species is limited. Part of the "Biology" series.
Part of the "Life in Aquatic Environments" series. Places many of the organisms into an ecological perspective of hydras, planarians, annelids, aquatic insects, rotifers, protists, and all other organisms that provide food for fish and other vertebrates. Observes adaptations for planktonic life in daphnia and other cladocerans, copepods, rotifers, and planktonic algae. Explores bacterial decomposition, recycling of materials, adaptations for bottom life, and ecological relationships in the bottom community. Takes an underwater look at the highly specialized organisms that live in rapids, under rock communities, and in slower waters. Investigates adaptations for life in temporary wetland environments.
Does anyone ever think about the four pounds of garbage they produce every day? Get down to the nitty-gritty and discover the delicate ecosystem of a landfill, including the potentially harmful byproduct methane gas. Viewers follow the stinky trail from curb to dump to uncover the fate of trash and the science behind decomposition. Part of the "Break It Down" series.
In the early 1950s, American biologist James Watson and British physicist Francis Crick came up with their famous model of the DNA double helix. The structure of DNA, as represented in Watson and Crick's model, is a double-stranded helix. The sugar-phosphate backbones of the DNA strands make up the outside of the helix, while the nitrogenous bases are found on the inside and form hydrogen-bonded pairs that hold the DNA strands together. Other topics covered include DNA replication, RNA transcription, and RNA translation. Part of the "Biology" series.
This video outlines the complementary nature between structure and function. Students will observe specific animals that have structures geared towards a particular function. Topics covered include the structures and processes animals use involved in breathing, eating, passing waste, and moving. Part of the "Biology" series.
Host Emily Graslie travels to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and she explores the health sciences collection. Dr. Nicole Garneau is the curator for the exhibit, and Graslie becomes the newest addition to the DNA collection. Part of "The Brain Scoop" series. Please note: This title shows donated human anatomy to the museum collection.
How do spiders make their webs? Turns out it’s in their DNA. Spider expert and American Museum of Natural History curator Cheryl Y. Hayashi discusses her research into spider silk.
Juncos, also known as snowbirds, are readily observed in backyards, city parks, and forests. These little gray birds are so common they can be easily overlooked. But for scientists who study animal behavior, ecology, and evolutionary biology, the junco is a rock star. Part of Ordinary Extraordinary Junco (Intro).
Scientist William Rowan is renowned for his research on the dark-eyed junco. Before Rowan, it was unknown what environmental cues animals used to time the seasonal changes in their biology. Through a groundbreaking experiment with the junco, Rowan discovered the physiological reaction of organisms to the length of day or night. Shot as an historical re-enactment, this segment provides a glimpse into the history and human dimensions of scientific research and reveals one of the first studies that made juncos well-known to biologists. Part of Ordinary Extraordinary Junco (Chapter 1).
Part of the "The Biology Classics" series. Daphnia are small, planktonic crustaceans. Provides a classic study in arthropod behavior and anatomy. Examines the eye, brain, jaws, intestine, legs (with gills), and heart. Identifies two kinds of eggs: those that hatch directly into female daphnia and resistant eggs that carry the species through periods of freezing and drying.
Throughout North America, the species known as the dark-eyed junco exhibits striking differences in feather color, body size, and behavior from place to place. These variations among subspecies have caught the attention of biologists interested in diversification, evolution, and speciation. This segment features footage from junco habitats across the continent as researchers try to decode the riddle of the Junco’s evolutionary history. Part of Ordinary Extraordinary Junco (Chapter 3).
Less familiar to residents of the US and Canada are several junco groups that inhabit the highlands of Mexico and Central America. In this segment, researchers from around the world travel to remote high elevation habitats to study unique junco groups. They explore the concepts of endemism, geographic isolation, and the role of genetic data in classifying species. Part of Ordinary Extraordinary Junco (Chapter 4).
Researchers hitch a ride with the Mexican Navy to visit the breathtakingly beautiful but critically endangered island habitat of Guadeloupe Island. Led by Drs. Borja Mila and Ellen Ketterson, the team sets out to collect some of the first modern data and genetic samples from the juncos found on the remote island, with the goal of learning the origins and evolutionary history of this mysterious species. What they find could have important implications for the future of this fascinating but imperiled population of juncos. Part of Ordinary Extraordinary Junco (Chapter 5).
Recapping themes from the prior modules and previewing the junco research of the future, this closing segment reinforces the broad range of important scientific findings involving the Junco. Featuring sound bites from more than a dozen diverse scientists who study juncos, this segment emphasizes the importance of emerging genetic and genomic research tools to complement research in the field. Viewers are reminded to consider all that can be learned from a little backyard bird. Part of Ordinary Extraordinary Junco (Outro).
For nearly 40 years, Dr. Ellen Ketterson and her research team from Indiana University have been studying juncos in the mountain forests of Virginia. This segment introduces viewers to the junco, the researchers, and the core methods they use to study birds. Set in field, lab, and aviary locations, one landmark study is highlighted in detail: a long-term field experiment investigating the complex effects of the hormone testosterone on behavior, physiology, and evolutionary fitness. Part of Ordinary Extraordinary Junco (Chapter 2).
In contrast to the peaceful wildlands featured in the prior segments, the urban campus of the University of California-San Diego (UCSD) seems like an unlikely place to find field biologists studying juncos. But in the early 1980s, some juncos decided to make this atypical urban and coastal habitat their year-round home. Since then, scientists have documented a remarkable array of changes in the physical traits, behaviors, and physiology of the colonist population of juncos at UCSD when compared to juncos from the nearby native range. Part of Ordinary Extraordinary Junco (Chapter 6).
Agricultural engineers explain their work and how they use biology and engineering to make farms energy efficient and the food supply safe and plentiful. They describe what drew them to this profession and also discuss their education and career paths.
The story of the egg spans millions of years from the first vertebrates that dared to venture onto land to today’s mammals. This episode takes an in-depth look at the biology and history of oviparous and viviparous animals. Part of the "Eons" series.
Part of the "The Biology Classics" series. The cross-eyed flatworm, planaria, is both scavenger and predator, depending upon opportunity. Details food-seeking behavior, the flatworm's feeding method, locomotion (produced by a carpet of cilia), internal anatomy, and reproduction through the remarkable process of regeneration.
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