Synopsis
From algal cells to human beings we are all made of the same things and governed by the same laws as the stars themselves. This is the story of the amazing diversity and adaptability of life told through the fundamental laws that govern it. Professor Brian Cox explains how the astonishing inventiveness of nature came about and illuminates some of the fundamental principles of physics, chemistry and the biological sciences in this compilation of films specially edited for schools.
- Programme: Wonders Of Life
- Series: Learning Zone
- Episode: 2
- Channel: BBC Two
- Broadcast year: 2013
- Science
Licence: ERA Licence required
UK only
Staff and students of licensed education establishments only
Cannot be adapted
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More clips from Wonders Of Life
Evolution of hearing and jaws in fish, reptiles and mammals | Wonders of Life
Evolution of hearing and jaws in fish, reptiles and mammals | Wonders of Life
Spec references J247: B5.2c J250: B5.2c. Clip starts with a description of hearing and then goe...
Evolution of the structure of the eye | Wonders of Life
Evolution of the structure of the eye | Wonders of Life
Spec references J247: B3.1d. Demonstration showing a small hole added to a membrane and then a lens is added. This re...
Evolution of hearing and jaws in fish, reptiles and mammals | Wonders of Life
Evolution of hearing and jaws in fish, reptiles and mammals | Wonders of Life
Spec references J247: B5.2c J250: B5.2c. Clip starts with a description of hearing and then goe...
Evolution of the structure of the eye | Wonders of Life
Evolution of the structure of the eye | Wonders of Life
Spec references J247: B3.1d. Demonstration showing a small hole added to a membrane and then a lens is added. This re...
Evolution of hearing and jaws in fish, reptiles and mammals | Wonders of Life
Evolution of hearing and jaws in fish, reptiles and mammals | Wonders of Life
Spec references J247: B5.2c J250: B5.2c. Clip starts with a description of hearing and then goe...
Evolution of the structure of the eye | Wonders of Life
Evolution of the structure of the eye | Wonders of Life
Spec references J247: B3.1d. Demonstration showing a small hole added to a membrane and then a lens is added. This re...
Evolution of hearing and jaws in fish, reptiles and mammals | Wonders of Life
Evolution of hearing and jaws in fish, reptiles and mammals | Wonders of Life
Spec references J247: B5.2c J250: B5.2c. Clip starts with a description of hearing and then goe...
Evolution of the structure of the eye | Wonders of Life
Evolution of the structure of the eye | Wonders of Life
Spec references J247: B3.1d. Demonstration showing a small hole added to a membrane and then a lens is added. This re...
More resources about Inheritance variation and evolution
IVF | How Science Changed Our World
IVF | How Science Changed Our World
Professor Robert Winston meets families who benefitted from breakthrough's in research which lead to IVF treatments.
Unlocking The Code | The Gene Code
Unlocking The Code | The Gene Code
Dr Adam Rutherford takes the viewer on a rollercoaster ride as he explores the consequences of one of the biggest scientific projects of a...
1: The Book of Life | The Gene Code
1: The Book of Life | The Gene Code
Adam Rutherford explores how the entire human genome was decoded, discovering that every human carries the entire story of life on earth ...
Charles Darwin And The Tree Of Life
Charles Darwin And The Tree Of Life
David Attenborough is a passionate Darwinian, and sees evolution as the cornerstone of all the programmes and series he has ever made. He...
Chromosomes | Curriculum Bites
Chromosomes | Curriculum Bites
Schools science programme where topics in the double science curriculum are broken down into small chunks.
Gregor Mendel, Francis Crick and James Watson | Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life
Gregor Mendel, Francis Crick and James Watson | Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life
David Attenborough explores how the discovery of DNA provided further evidence for Darwi...
The discovery of chromosomes | The Cell
The discovery of chromosomes | The Cell
Adam Rutherford explores how scientists used better microscopes and new chemical dyes to discover and name chromosomes.
The genetic modification debate | Science Britannica - Learning Zone
The genetic modification debate | Science Britannica - Learning Zone
Brian Cox explores the science behind the genetic modification of plants, and the ongoing debate around ...
The Making of Man's Best Friend | Dog Tales and Cat Tales
The Making of Man's Best Friend | Dog Tales and Cat Tales
The latest archaeology and genetics answer the biggest questions about dogs. Where did they come from? How can they...
02: Predictor | How to Build a Human
02: Predictor | How to Build a Human
A look at the veracity of scientists' claims that they are on the verge of being able to predict our futures by analysing our genes and ...
1: A Confusion of Names | Botany: A Blooming History
1: A Confusion of Names | Botany: A Blooming History
Timothy Walker reveals how the work of Carl Linnaeus, Phillip Miller and John Ray unlocked the mysteries of the plant ki...
1: Apeman - Spaceman | Human Universe
1: Apeman - Spaceman | Human Universe
Professor Brian Cox explores our place in the universe. He charts the story of humans from apes to the birth of civilisation to our asc...
1: Body and Soul | Andrew Marr on Darwin's Dangerous Idea
1: Body and Soul | Andrew Marr on Darwin's Dangerous Idea
Andrew Marr explores how Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection has taken on a life of its own far beyon...
1: The First of Us | Human
1: The First of Us | Human
The extraordinary story of how the human species, Homo sapiens, first emerged, where the discoveries of recent years are revolutionising the under...
1: What Is Life? | Wonders of Life
1: What Is Life? | Wonders of Life
In the world's most volcanic region, South East Asia, Prof Brian Cox explores the thin line that separates the living from the dead, posin...
10/05/2016 | Science Cafe
10/05/2016 | Science Cafe
Adam Walton looks at the work of the National Centre for Mental Health in Cardiff, where scientists are exploring the question of whether genes aff...
2: Born Equal? | Andrew Marr on Darwin's Dangerous Idea
2: Born Equal? | Andrew Marr on Darwin's Dangerous Idea
Andrew Marr explores Darwin's impact on politics and society, including how the theory of natural selection has been ...
2: Expanding Universe | Wonders of Life
2: Expanding Universe | Wonders of Life
Brian Cox travels across the USA offering a unique retelling of evolutionary history, encountering some astonishing animals that reve...
2: Into the Unknown | Human
2: Into the Unknown | Human
Following early Homo sapiens's ancestors as they step out of Africa and venture into the wider world, heading into areas inhabited by other human...
2: Unlocking the Code | The Gene Code
2: Unlocking the Code | The Gene Code
Adam Rutherford shows how decoding the human genome has led us to begin to understand the very process by which our DNA makes each one ...
More from Brian Cox
5: Strange Worlds | Solar System
5: Strange Worlds | Solar System
Professor Brian Cox explores the solar system's misfits and oddballs and investigates the forces that sculpted the bizarre features on these...
Brian Cox: Seven Days on Mars
Brian Cox: Seven Days on Mars
With unique access to Nasa, Brian Cox follows Perseverance rover's search for life on Mars during a critical seven-day period as it undertakes ...
1: Space: How Far Can We Go? | Brian Cox's Adventures in Space and Time
1: Space: How Far Can We Go? | Brian Cox's Adventures in Space and Time
Brian Cox explores the latest science and takes a new look at his old films and asks: how far can we ...
2: Alien Worlds: The Search for Second Earth | Universe
2: Alien Worlds: The Search for Second Earth | Universe
Professor Brian Cox questions whether we are alone in the universe. There might be more planets than stars in our gal...
2: Order out of Chaos | Wonders of the Solar System
2: Order out of Chaos | Wonders of the Solar System
Professor Brian Cox describes how nature has carved out the solar system. He looks at the rings of Saturn, explaining how...
2: The Two Sisters - Earth and Mars | The Planets
2: The Two Sisters - Earth and Mars | The Planets
Professor Brian Cox continues his tour of the solar system revealing that it was once home to not one, but two blue planets.
Moon Landing Special | Stargazing
Moon Landing Special | Stargazing
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, Professor Brian Cox and Dara O Briain travel to where the historic Apollo 11 ...
The 21st Century Race For Space
The 21st Century Race For Space
Brian Cox gains exclusive access to Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and Spaceport America, to explore what is really happening in privately fina...
4: The Pale Blue Dot | Forces of Nature with Brian Cox
4: The Pale Blue Dot | Forces of Nature with Brian Cox
Professor Brian Cox reveals how Earth's beauty is created by just a handful of forces. In this episode Brian explains ...
The Entire Universe
The Entire Universe
Eric Idle persuades Professor Brian Cox to present a lecture on the birth of the entire universe. Brian soon realises Eric is actually hosting a comedy a...
4: A Place in Space and Time | Human Universe
4: A Place in Space and Time | Human Universe
Professor Brian Cox explores mankind's place in the universe. He looks at how we came to understand that we are not at the cent...
Brian Cox: Space, Time & Videotape
Brian Cox: Space, Time & Videotape
Professor Brian Cox is joined by two of his heroes, the actor Brian Blessed and Professor Alice Roberts. On the agenda are his TV idols fr...
Evolution of hearing and jaws in fish, reptiles and mammals | Wonders of Life
Evolution of hearing and jaws in fish, reptiles and mammals | Wonders of Life
Spec references J247: B5.2c J250: B5.2c. Clip starts with a description of hearing and then goe...
The genetic modification debate | Science Britannica - Learning Zone
The genetic modification debate | Science Britannica - Learning Zone
Brian Cox explores the science behind the genetic modification of plants, and the ongoing debate around ...
2: Method and Madness | In Search of Science
2: Method and Madness | In Search of Science
Professor Brian Cox celebrates Britain's pivotal role in creating the systems of modern science, from Newton to hydrogen explosi...
How are elements made? | Wonders of the Universe
How are elements made? | Wonders of the Universe
Brian Cox explains what elements are and how they are formed, including the importance of carbon.
A Night with the Stars
A Night with the Stars
Professor Brian Cox takes an audience of famous faces, scientists and members of the public on a journey through some of the most challenging concepts...
Horizon: 40 Years on the Moon
Horizon: 40 Years on the Moon
Brian Cox uses the BBC archive to examine the story of man's relationship with the moon, from James Burke testing out Nasa equipment to Neil Ar...
The Big Bang Machine
The Big Bang Machine
Brian Cox looks around Cern's LHC in Geneva before it is sealed off and the experiment to try and create conditions that existed a billionth of a second...