In this video segment from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life," Eric Lander of MIT's Whitehead Institute explains the effort to decode the human genome—from motivation to process to importance—and explains what a genome map can and cannot yet do for science. This video is available in both English and
This narrated animation from Interactive NOVA: "The Secret of Life" shows the double helix structure of DNA and how the molecule replicates. The segment illustrates how DNA "unzips" to form templates for the new strands and how complementary nucleotides bind together like the rungs of a ladder. This
In this video segment adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, learn how scientists are hoping to better understand the biology of dinosaurs by studying the insides of fossil bones. Hear about the accidental discovery of dinosaur soft tissue by paleontologist Dr. Mary Schweitzer, and how this tissue enables sc
In this video segment adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, learn about obesity and how both genetics and behavior play a role in its development. Obesity researchers Sadaf Forooqi, Stephen O'Rahilly, and Jeffrey Friedman discuss the physiological basis of appetite regulation, including the roles of the hor
This video excerpt from NOVA examines the dilemma some people face when they are deciding whether to undergo genetic testing. Journalist Catherine Elton describes her decision to refuse a test for BRCA1, a mutation that signals an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers, despite the history of
This video excerpt from NOVA examines the promise and realities of developing drugs designed to treat genetic disorders. The video presents the story of one patient, Michael McCarrick, whose lungs were devastated from years of suffering from cystic fibrosis. After researchers identified the gene inv
This video excerpt from NOVA uncovers the genetic mystery that nearly killed Alexis, now 14, and introduces the debate surrounding genetic testing at birth. After diagnosing Alexis and her twin brother Noah with cerebral palsy at a young age, doctors later discovered that the twins shared a rare gen
This video excerpt from NOVA examines a genetic screening technique called preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD. PGD enables researchers to identify mutations in an embryo’s DNA that can lead to birth defects and more than 300 diseases, including Huntington’s, cystic fibrosis, and some cancers.
On this episode of Animal Fact Files discover animals that look like a breakfast food! You can learn more on: Twitter - https://twitter.com/animalfactfiles Facebook - https://facebook.com/animalfactfiles --- We always do what we can to be as accurate as possible, but we're only human; if you catc
Today, medicine is seen as an authority and a sacred institution. But like any institution, it has a dark past. The story of Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis shows how medicine was terribly wrong and how the poor judgment of the doctors cost many women their lives. In 19th-century Vienna, the young doctor was r
