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ERA Video Streaming Platform | Search TV & Radio Programmes | Biology

Biology

Nutritional health

Sugar in processed foods | Diet: A Horizon Guide

Sugar in processed foods | Diet: A Horizon Guide

BBC Four | 2010 | 2'11''

The introduction of sugar into processed foods improved the taste and had a dire effect on a generation's health.

Saturated fats and fibre | Diet: A Horizon Guide

Saturated fats and fibre | Diet: A Horizon Guide

BBC Four | 2010 | 4'20

Susan Jebb looks back at when Horizon brought light to the different types of fats we were eating and the affect this had on...

Cholesterol and different fats | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Cholesterol and different fats | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2007 | 4'56''

Alice finds out about cholesterol and what different types of fat affect it.

Diabetes, Glucose and Insulin | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Diabetes, Glucose and Insulin | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2007 | 4'43''

Alice demonstrates the affect of sugar on the blood and how insulin is formed.

The why of obesity and its history | Diet: A Horizon Guide

The why of obesity and its history | Diet: A Horizon Guide

BBC Four | 2010 | 3'34''

Susan Jebb mentions her own research that proved that obese people having a slow metabolism was a complete myth.

Foods with a low glycaemic index | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

Foods with a low glycaemic index | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

BBC Two | 2015 | 6'27''

The "feasters" are split and are given different lunches with varying GI (glycaemic index...

Fasting, fats and ketones | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

Fasting, fats and ketones | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

BBC Two | 2015 | 6'56''

The "cravers" are put on a strict intermittent fasting diet which has a considerable effect on t...

Sugar and the brain | Food on the Brain

Sugar and the brain | Food on the Brain

BBC One | 2015 | 2'53''

Neuroscientist Nicole Avina describes the affect of a consistent supply of sugar on the brain and the similarities this has to drug a...

Fish and kale: brain-food | Food on the Brain

Fish and kale: brain-food | Food on the Brain

BBC One | 2015 | 4'15''

Stephen tries some foods that are good for the brain and finds out why fish and kale are particularly good.

Mushrooms, Sun and Vitamin D | Britain's Favourite Foods - Are They Good for You?

Mushrooms, Sun and Vitamin D | Britain's Favourite Foods - Are They Good for You?

BBC Two | 2015 | 2'27''

Alice reveals how mushrooms have a similar membrane to our skin that soak up vitamin D when...

Bread and salt | Britain's Favourite Foods - Are They Good for You?

Bread and salt | Britain's Favourite Foods - Are They Good for You?

BBC Two | 2015 | 1'13''

Alice reveals how much bread we eat as a nation and a worrying statistic about its salt levels.

Cheese, calcium and fats | Britain's Favourite Foods - Are They Good for You?

Cheese, calcium and fats | Britain's Favourite Foods - Are They Good for You?

BBC Two | 2015 | 5'14''

Alice does a test with someone eating a low and high dairy diet to see the effects of shedding ...

Apples and polyphenols | Britain's Favourite Foods - Are They Good for You?

Apples and polyphenols | Britain's Favourite Foods - Are They Good for You?

BBC Two | 2015 | 3'48''

Alice finds out that some types of apples are significantly better for us than others; simply the...

Bananas and potassium | Britain's Favourite Foods - Are They Good for You?

Bananas and potassium | Britain's Favourite Foods - Are They Good for You?

BBC Two | 2015 | 1'18''

Alice divulges some facts about one of the nations favourite fruits, the banana.

Meat and protein | Britain's Favourite Foods - Are They Good for You?

Meat and protein | Britain's Favourite Foods - Are They Good for You?

BBC Two | 2015 | 5'07''

A woman's brain pattern is examined with regards to hunger and cravings before and after consuming a pr...

Food labelling and design | What's Really in Our Food?

Food labelling and design | What's Really in Our Food?

BBC One | 2009 | 3'48''

A design company skirts around the truth of what can be put on food packaging.

Diet and water-loss | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

Diet and water-loss | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

BBC Two | 2015 | 1'12''

When dieting, the initial loss of weight is actually water-loss rather than fat.

Exercise, weigh loss and compensation | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

Exercise, weigh loss and compensation | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

BBC Two | 2015 | 5'35''

An exercise scientist explains the benefits of exercise and the phenomenon of "compe...

Metabolic rate myths | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

Metabolic rate myths | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

BBC Two | 2015 | 4'11''

Nutritionist Susan Jebb shows how the dieters metabolic rate has reduced in line with the them losing...

Genes, fat levels and leptin | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

Genes, fat levels and leptin | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

BBC Two | 2015 | 3'21''

Scientist Giles Yo demonstrates how the dieters genes may not be helping them in their battle...

The importance of breakfast | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

The importance of breakfast | What's The Right Diet For You? A Horizon Special

BBC Two | 2015 | 3'36''

Geneticist Giles Yo outlays the importance of breakfast with a simple experiment.

Obesity and dopamine receptors | Food on the Brain

Obesity and dopamine receptors | Food on the Brain

BBC One | 2015 | 3'14''

Some research shows that obese people often can have reduced dopamine receptors, meaning that genetically they are transpo...

Dietary labelling and misinformation | Week In Week Out

Dietary labelling and misinformation | Week In Week Out

BBC News | 2015 | 2'07''

Despite strong legislation surrounding the supplement industry, it is rarely enforced.

Pro-hormones and steroids | Week In Week Out

Pro-hormones and steroids | Week In Week Out

BBC News | 2015 | 3'53''

Some supplements are even masquerading as "designer" steroids, which are in fact a class C drug.

The human digestive system

Bowel cancer and 'transit time' | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Bowel cancer and 'transit time' | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 4'30''

Alice does a test with Les eating sweetcorn to see how long it takes for them to digest the food until ex...

What does your stomach look like from the inside? | Guts: The Strange and Wonderful World of the Human Stomach

What does your stomach look like from the inside? | Guts: The Strange and Wonderful World of the Human Stomach

BBC Four | 2012 | 3'02''

Michael Mosley finds out what happens inside our stomachs by s...

Journey through guts | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

Journey through guts | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

BBC Two | 2013 | 5'33''

A camera travels through the digestive system.

Digestive powers | Guts: The Strange and Wonderful World of the Human Stomach

Digestive powers | Guts: The Strange and Wonderful World of the Human Stomach

BBC Four | 2012 | 4'53''

The digestive powers of the gastric juices within the human stomach are tested.

Stomach and intestines | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Stomach and intestines | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 1'53''

Alice shares some facts about the stomach and intestines.

Saliva test | The Secrets of Your Food

Saliva test | The Secrets of Your Food

BBC Two | 2017 | 2'36''

A saliva test reveals the role of our senses in saliva production and in our digestive system as a whole.

The brain in our gut | Guts: The Strange and Wonderful World of the Human Stomach

The brain in our gut | Guts: The Strange and Wonderful World of the Human Stomach

BBC Four | 2012 | 2'08''

Our intestines are remarkable similar to that of a pigs.

Anatomy of a stomach | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Anatomy of a stomach | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 4'05''

Alice dissects a pigs stomach to show how a human one works. She also tests her own stomach acid.

Enzyme power and food as fuel | Bitesize Science

Enzyme power and food as fuel | Bitesize Science

BBC Two | 2014 | 4'50''

Enzymes are biological catalysts which help us to get the energy we need from food to survive.

The large intestine | Guts: The Strange and Wonderful World of the Human Stomach

The large intestine | Guts: The Strange and Wonderful World of the Human Stomach

BBC Four | 2012 | 2'10''

A camera travels through the last part of the digestive system and explores the role of the ...

Burning Calories | The Truth About…

Burning Calories | The Truth About…

BBC One | 2016 | 4'20''

Dr Chris van Tulleken investigates how much energy is in popular foods by setting them on fire.

The small intestine | Guts: The Strange and Wonderful World of the Human Stomach

The small intestine | Guts: The Strange and Wonderful World of the Human Stomach

BBC Four | 2012 | 2'50''

A camera travels through the digestive system and shows the frenzy of digestion within the s...

How food and oxygen combine to provide energy to work the body | Inside the Human Body

How food and oxygen combine to provide energy to work the body | Inside the Human Body

BBC One | 2011 | 2'03''

Using state-of-the-art graphics, Michael Mosley explains what happens to food inside o...

The circulatory system

Anatomy of the heart | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Anatomy of the heart | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2007 | 3'47''

Alice examines a pigs heart and describes how it works in human terms.

A circulatory path | Heart vs Mind: What makes us human

A circulatory path | Heart vs Mind: What makes us human

BBC Four | 2016 | 2'33''

In the 17th century, Harvey discovered that blood flows in a circulatory path.

Anatomy of the lungs | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Anatomy of the lungs | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2007 | 2'02''

Alice dissects a pigs to demonstrate how our human lungs work.

The life cycle of a red blood cell | Inside the Human Body

The life cycle of a red blood cell | Inside the Human Body

BBC One | 2011 | 3'14''

Using state-of-the-art graphics, Michael Mosley shows the journey of a red blood cell through the body.

Arteries and alcohol | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Arteries and alcohol | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2007 | 2'45''

Alice tests the effect of alcohol on her arteries and blood flow.

Chambers of the heart | Heart vs Mind: What makes us human

Chambers of the heart | Heart vs Mind: What makes us human

BBC Four | 2016 | 4'08''

Cardiac imaging reveals how our hearts push blood around our bodies.

T Cells (Full Programme) | Made of Stronger Stuff

T Cells (Full Programme) | Made of Stronger Stuff

BBC Radio 4 | 2021 | 27'27''

Psychologist Kimberley Wilson and Dr Xand van Tulleken take a journey through the body's immune system and profile a remark...

The function of platelets | The Wonderful World of Blood - with Michael Mosley

The function of platelets | The Wonderful World of Blood - with Michael Mosley

BBC Four | 2015 | 3'18''

Michael Mosley conducts an experiment to demonstrate blood clotting, and explains the role of ...

High Blood Pressure | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

High Blood Pressure | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2007 | 3'16''

Alice demonstrates high blood pressure and explains what it means.

The process of healing a wound | Inside the Human Body

The process of healing a wound | Inside the Human Body

BBC One | 2011 | 3'52''

Using state-of-the-art graphics, Michael Mosley illustrates what happens inside the body in response to a wound or inj...

Laughter workshop for the heart | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Laughter workshop for the heart | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2007 | 1'06''

A Bristol laughter workshop encourages people to laugh which has an interesting effect on your heart.

The changes to red blood cells when oxygen is added | The Wonderful World of Blood - with Michael Mosley

The changes to red blood cells when oxygen is added | The Wonderful World of Blood - with Michael Mosley

BBC Four | 2015 | 1'23''

Michael Mosley pumps oxygen through a blood sample, demonstrating th...

Lung Structure | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Lung Structure | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2007 | 33''

Alice details the structure of the human lungs.

The immune system and white blood cells | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

The immune system and white blood cells | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 3'09''

Alice describes how the immune system works and what white blood cells do when we're ill.

The skeletal and muscular systems

Lifting and treating back pain | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Lifting and treating back pain | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 4'01''

Alice speaks to Scientists Trish and Mike who explain how we do damage to our backs when lifting heavy ite...

Muscles and nerves | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Muscles and nerves | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 1'47''

Alice dissects some muscles and describe how they work in partnership with nerves for movement.

The skeleton and the spine | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

The skeleton and the spine | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 3'19''

Alice talks about what it means to have a "straight back" and if it is actually good for us.

What is a slipped disc? | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

What is a slipped disc? | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 1'28''

Alice examines the anatomy of a spine and demonstrates what happens when someone has a "slipped disc".

The Spine (Full Programme) | Made of Stronger Stuff

The Spine (Full Programme) | Made of Stronger Stuff

BBC Radio 4 | 2021 | 27'24''

Psychologist Kimberley Wilson and Dr Xand van Tulleken take a journey around the human body. In this episode, it's the tu...

Bones and Osteoporosis | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Bones and Osteoporosis | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 3'57''

Alice talks to a bone expert and finds out the problems they can face as they age.

The human nervous system

Light receptors | Inside the Human Body

Light receptors | Inside the Human Body

BBC Two | 2021 | 3'36''

There are two types of light receptors within the retina responsible for detecting and processing light: the rods and the cones.

Hearts and minds | Heart vs Mind: What makes us human

Hearts and minds | Heart vs Mind: What makes us human

BBC Four | 2016 | 3'49''

Scientists are reexaming the relationship between our heart and our brain.

The complexity of brain surgery | Inside the Human Body

The complexity of brain surgery | Inside the Human Body

BBC Two | 2021 | 5'31''

A little girl, Angelina, requires complex brain surgery in order to alleviate the systoms she is suffering as a resul...

The eye | i-Science

The eye | i-Science

BBC Two | 2009 | 4'18''

Specialist eye surgeons at the world famous Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, use some of the most technically advanced equipment to take a look inside ...

Rods, cones & 3D vision | James May's Things You Need to Know

Rods, cones & 3D vision | James May's Things You Need to Know

BBC Two | 2011 | 2'05''

James May asks the big questions about his body. Why are we made like this? In this clip, he explores cones, ro...

Homeostasis

An Introduction to Homeostasis | The Human Body : The Secrets of Your Life Revealed

An Introduction to Homeostasis | The Human Body : The Secrets of Your Life Revealed

BBC Two | 2017 | 2'11''

We live on a knife edge, and we are amazingly good at doing it. Chris van Tulleken gives ...

How the body keeps warm in cold environments | Inside the Human Body

How the body keeps warm in cold environments | Inside the Human Body

BBC One | 2011 | 1'36''

Using state-of-the-art graphics, Michael Mosley shows what happens in our bodies when we get cold.

Fear Response | The Human Body : The Secrets of Your Life Revealed

Fear Response | The Human Body : The Secrets of Your Life Revealed

BBC Two | 2017 | 3'51''

Chris van Tulleken accompanies some snake hunters at work, showing what happens inside our bodies when we ...

The function of the kidneys | Short Circuit

The function of the kidneys | Short Circuit

BBC Two | 2008 | 2'22''

The function of the kidneys in the body and how they work, including a cast showing the blood vessel structure.

How the body responds to extreme temperatures | The Human Body : The Secrets of Your Life Revealed

How the body responds to extreme temperatures | The Human Body : The Secrets of Your Life Revealed

BBC Two | 2017 | 3'36''

Chris van Tulleken uses a miniature thermometer to explore what happens to...

The role of the hypothalamus in water levels in blood | Short Circuit

The role of the hypothalamus in water levels in blood | Short Circuit

BBC Two | 2008 | 2'01''

An explanation and visualisation of how the hypothalamus works to control water concentration in the bl...

The body's response to extreme cold | The Human Body : The Secrets of Your Life Revealed

The body's response to extreme cold | The Human Body : The Secrets of Your Life Revealed

BBC Two | 2017 | 3'07''

How do our bodies react and respond when we dive into freezing water?

Genome, chromosomes and DNA

How many genes do we have compared to a banana? | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

How many genes do we have compared to a banana? | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

BBC Two | 2012 | 1'14''

Dara O'Briain explores how many genes humans have in common with mice, fruit flies, and bananas.

The human genome | i-Science

The human genome | i-Science

BBC Two | 2009 | 4'39''

Whether genetic technology causes social harms is really up to us and how we choose to use it.

The discovery of chromosomes | The Cell

The discovery of chromosomes | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 1'33''

Adam Rutherford explores how scientists used better microscopes and new chemical dyes to discover and name chromosomes.

What contributions has The Human Genome Project made? | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

What contributions has The Human Genome Project made? | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

BBC Two | 2012 | 3'08''

When the human genome was sequenced, it was heralded as one of the most significant even...

Genetic switches | The Cell

Genetic switches | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 3'40''

Adam Rutherford meets the scientist Walter Jakob Gehring, who worked with a team of scientists to understand genetic switches.

DNA Discovery | The Gene Code

DNA Discovery | The Gene Code

BBC Four | 2011 | 5'54''

How does the DNA code work?

The first images of DNA | The Cell

The first images of DNA | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 3'16''

Adam Rutherford explains how the work of scientist Rosalind Franklin produced the first images of the structure of DNA.

Our genetic code | The Gene Code

Our genetic code | The Gene Code

BBC Four | 2011 | 2'03''

The human genome is the total of our hereditary information, the complete list of every single one of the three billion bases in our DNA.

The production of proteins | The Cell

The production of proteins | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 1'44''

An explanation and visualisation of DNA, RNA, and the production of protein, the process at the heart of every living cell on earth.

The structure of DNA | The Cell

The structure of DNA | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 2'48''

Adam Rutherford explains and illustrates the structure of DNA, and the way its discovery revealed the secret of how genes are reproduced when...

What is a gene? | The Gene Code

What is a gene? | The Gene Code

BBC Four | 2011 | 6'17''

In the 1980s in Britain, the search to link diseases to specific genes began by focusing on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Human reproduction

Male Reproductive Organs | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Male Reproductive Organs | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 3'52''

Alice describes the makeup of the male reproductive organ.

How an erection works | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

How an erection works | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 1'56''

Alice demonstrates how blood is essential to an erection.

The prostate | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

The prostate | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 2'15''

Alices demonstrates where the prostate is and what can happen to it over time.

The Testes | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

The Testes | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 1'52''

Alices explains what the testes in the male reproductive system do.

Anatomy of the Female Reproductive Organs | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Anatomy of the Female Reproductive Organs | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 1'49''

Alice dissects a pigs reproductive organs to demonstrate the anatomical makeup of a woman's equ...

MRI of the Female Reproductive Organs | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

MRI of the Female Reproductive Organs | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 2'05''

Alice examines an MRI of her own female reproductive anatomy.

Ovulation and menstruation | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Ovulation and menstruation | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 2'50''

Alice explains what happens during ovulation and menstruation.

A sperm's journey | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

A sperm's journey | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 5'42''

Alice details the tough journey each sperm endures in an attempt to fertilise an egg.

Sperms race to the egg | James May's Things You Need to Know

Sperms race to the egg | James May's Things You Need to Know

BBC Two | 2011 | 2'27''

James May explains the human reproductive system and how sperm reaches the egg.

When a sperm cell meets an egg cell | Inside the Human Body

When a sperm cell meets an egg cell | Inside the Human Body

BBC One | 2011 | 2'10''

Using state-of-the-art graphics, Michael Mosley shows what happens in the moments a sperm cell meets an egg cell.

The process of meiosis | Short Circuit

The process of meiosis | Short Circuit

BBC Two | 2008 | 2'01''

The process of meiosis in sperm and egg cells is explained and illustrated.

From Embryo to Foetus | Growing Babies

From Embryo to Foetus | Growing Babies

BBC Four | 2010 | 5'16''

(Contains graphic medical images) Showing the growth of the embryo into the foetus, from five weeks to nine weeks.

Three Weeks Since Conception | Growing Babies

Three Weeks Since Conception | Growing Babies

BBC Four | 2010 | 1'07''

(Contains graphic medical images) Time-lapse showing how, three weeks from conception, the embryo starts to take shape.

Drinking in first trimester | Misbehaving Mums to Be

Drinking in first trimester | Misbehaving Mums to Be

BBC Three | 2011 | 4'59''

Juliet is used to four bottles of wine a day. She gets quite a shock when her midwife gives her a total booze-ban.

High-risk pregnancy for obese mothers | Misbehaving Mums to Be

High-risk pregnancy for obese mothers | Misbehaving Mums to Be

BBC Three | 2011 | 3'19''

Kayley visits a maternity ward to see what it means to have a high-risk pregnancy.

Midwife deals with an under-eating mother | Misbehaving Mums to Be

Midwife deals with an under-eating mother | Misbehaving Mums to Be

BBC Three | 2011 | 6'21''

Natalie updates her midwife on her food diary and gets a reality check when she has a scan of her twins.

Smoking and pregnancy | Misbehaving Mums to Be

Smoking and pregnancy | Misbehaving Mums to Be

BBC Three | 2011 | 5'59''

Smoker Charlie is shown how little oxygen her baby is receiving and explains her reasons why she didn't think smoking was that...

Stress and Pregnancy | Misbehaving Mums to Be

Stress and Pregnancy | Misbehaving Mums to Be

BBC Three | 2011 | 7'56''

Laura is about to have her second child. She is plagued with worry about doing it all again and the affect this new stress will...

Under-eating and pregnancy | Misbehaving Mums to Be

Under-eating and pregnancy | Misbehaving Mums to Be

BBC Three | 2011 | 5'32''

Natalie doesn't eat much and when she does its unhealthy food. Her midwife Deb gives her a reality check.

Unhealthy eating and pregnancy | Misbehaving Mums to Be

Unhealthy eating and pregnancy | Misbehaving Mums to Be

BBC Three | 2011 | 5'31''

Kayley loves chips and gravy but gets a wakeup call from her midwife when she learns what affect this could have on h...

Working too much during pregnancy | Misbehaving Mums to Be

Working too much during pregnancy | Misbehaving Mums to Be

BBC Three | 2011 | 3'10''

Midwife Deb encourages a workaholic mum-to-be to reduce her hours and rest for the health of the baby.

Genetic inheritence

Variation, inheritance and the work of Mendel | Botany: A Blooming History

Variation, inheritance and the work of Mendel | Botany: A Blooming History

BBC Four | 2011 | 4'52''

How pioneer botanists opened the door to a new branch of science - plant genetics.

Hunting heritage | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment

Hunting heritage | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment

BBC Two | 2014 | 5'24''

Cats continue to have characteristics inherited from their ancestors.

How does inheritance work? | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

How does inheritance work? | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

BBC Two | 2012 | 2'46''

Predicting the future | DNA Family Secrets

Predicting the future | DNA Family Secrets

BBC Two | 2021 | 2'11''

Geneticists can predict the future by testing for genetic anomalies that can cause inherited diseases, like huntingtons.

Dominant and recessive genes | James May's Things You Need to Know

Dominant and recessive genes | James May's Things You Need to Know

BBC Two | 2011 | 3'11''

James May explains DNA and dominant and recessive genes.

Dominant and recessive genes | Short Circuit

Dominant and recessive genes | Short Circuit

BBC Two | 2008 | 1'16''

A simple, illustrated explanation of how dominant and recessive genes determine characteristics in animals.

Sickle cell disease | Storyville

Sickle cell disease | Storyville

BBC Four | 2020 | 6'07''

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disease, caused by a single change in the DNA sequence.

Gene therapy for cystic fibrosis | i-Science

Gene therapy for cystic fibrosis | i-Science

BBC Two | 2009 | 3'35''

Understanding DNA has given scientists new ways of trying to cure diseases, previously thought incurable.

Variation and evolution

Variation and defining species | Botany: A Blooming History

Variation and defining species | Botany: A Blooming History

BBC Four | 2011 | 2'14''

Timothy Walker looks at John Ray's discovery of variation, and how it formed the basis of our understanding of pl...

Evidence for evolution | Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life

Evidence for evolution | Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life

BBC One | 2009 | 1'44''

David Attenborough explores how the process of evolution produces such astonishing variety.

The Making of Man's Best Friend | Dog Tales and Cat Tales

The Making of Man's Best Friend | Dog Tales and Cat Tales

BBC Four | 2020 | 58'25''

The latest archaeology and genetics answer the biggest questions about dogs. Where did they come from? How can they...

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

BBC One | 2009 | 3'23''

David Attenborough explores how the discovery of DNA provided further evidence for Darwi...

Chimps and us | The Gene Code

Chimps and us | The Gene Code

BBC Four | 2011 | 5'14''

It seems tiny changes within the gene six million years ago mutated the hotspots on our ancestors' chromosomes and began driving two species ou...

Use it or lose it | The Gene Code

Use it or lose it | The Gene Code

BBC Four | 2011 | 9'31''

Just as our genomes hang on to the good things, we readily abandon genes that are no longer of any use.

Natural Selection and Darwin's finches | Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life

Natural Selection and Darwin's finches | Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life

BBC One | 2009 | 2'44''

David Attenborough outlines Darwin's discovery of the theories of evolution and natural selection.

The first hybrid plant | Botany: A Blooming History

The first hybrid plant | Botany: A Blooming History

BBC Four | 2011 | 1'48''

Thomas Fairchild was the first to artificially cross two plant species and produce a new hybrid plant. This brought him i...

The perfect human? | Can science make me perfect? With Alice Roberts

The perfect human? | Can science make me perfect? With Alice Roberts

BBC Four | 2020 | 5'29''

What evolution has provided us with is a human body that works as a whole package: you can't replace ind...

The Tree of Life | Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life

The Tree of Life | Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life

BBC One | 2009 | 5'31''

David Attenborough takes us on a journey through time from the first cells through to the complex animals that inhabit...

Common ancestor | Evolutionwatch

Common ancestor | Evolutionwatch

BBC Two | 2015 | 4'60''

Similar bone structures in a number of animals may suggest that they are all descended from the same ancestor.

The Beginning of Life | Life on Earth

The Beginning of Life | Life on Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 3'53''

David Attenborough explains the origins of life on earth, starting over three and a half thousand million years ago.

Cuba's ancient giants | Natural World

Cuba's ancient giants | Natural World

BBC Two | 2020 | 1'07''

American crocodiles have remained largely unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs.

Adaptive radiation | Nature's Wonderlands: Islands of Evolution

Adaptive radiation | Nature's Wonderlands: Islands of Evolution

BBC Four | 2018 | 4'54''

Adaptive radiation is a feature of island life, where isolation creates an abundance of opportunity.

Pentadactyl limb | Secrets of Bones

Pentadactyl limb | Secrets of Bones

BBC Four | 2015 | 4'39''

The pentadactyl limb adaptation, first seen over 300 million years ago, has helped a variety of animals to fly, from dinosaurs to bats.

Ecological niches | Nature's Wonderlands: Islands of Evolution

Ecological niches | Nature's Wonderlands: Islands of Evolution

BBC Four | 2018 | 3'47''

Different ecological niches provide many opportunities for different species to adapt and evolve.

How does the fossil record prove evolution | Short Circuit

How does the fossil record prove evolution | Short Circuit

BBC Two | 2008 | 1'54''

Angela Milner of the Natural History Museum shows examples of fossils which record the evolutionary changes that h...

Dizzying leaps | The Gene Code

Dizzying leaps | The Gene Code

BBC Four | 2011 | 7'15''

How did evolution take us from single cells to complex creatures?

Variety of Life | The Gene Code

Variety of Life | The Gene Code

BBC Four | 2011 | 4'55''

From a basic fourfold pattern, a stunning variety of life was free to evolve.

Communicable diseases

How babies gain intestinal bacteria through their mothers milk | The Human Body: Secrets of Your Life Revealed

How babies gain intestinal bacteria through their mothers milk | The Human Body: Secrets of Your Life Revealed

BBC Two | 2017 | 2'36''

Why does a human mother's milk contain complex oligosaccharide...

Natural killer cells | The Human Body: Secrets of Your Life Revealed

Natural killer cells | The Human Body: Secrets of Your Life Revealed

BBC Two | 2017 | 4'55''

How white blood cells, especially 'natural killer cells' fight viruses in our bodies.

S07E02 | Bang Goes the Theory

S07E02 | Bang Goes the Theory

BBC One | 2013 | 28'38''

In response to recent fears about the future of antibiotics, the Bang Goes the Theory team investigates germs and infection.

What happens when you get a cold? | James May's Things You Need to Know

What happens when you get a cold? | James May's Things You Need to Know

BBC Two | 2011 | 2'06''

James May asks the big questions about his body. Why are we made like this? In this clip, he explains...

Hand-Washing | The Truth About…

Hand-Washing | The Truth About…

BBC One | 2019 | 2'32''

Susan Lea explains why hand-washing is one of the simplest thing we can do as individuals to stop the spread of bacteria in our environment.

How respiratory viruses spread | Winter Viruses and How to Beat Them

How respiratory viruses spread | Winter Viruses and How to Beat Them

BBC Two | 2013 | 1'27''

An explanation of how respiratory viruses can spread by causing us to cough and sneeze.

Norovirus Spread | Winter Viruses and How to Beat Them

Norovirus Spread | Winter Viruses and How to Beat Them

BBC Two | 2013 | 5'36''

A demonstration shows how far norovirus can spread when a person vomits.

What is a virus? | Winter Viruses and How to Beat Them

What is a virus? | Winter Viruses and How to Beat Them

BBC Two | 2013 | 2'33''

A simple explanation and visualisation exploring what a virus is and how it replicates in the body.

Treating, curing and preventing disease

Edward Jenner's First Vaccination | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

Edward Jenner's First Vaccination | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

BBC Four | 2021 | 3'11''

The story of Edward Jenner's discovery that deliberately infecting someone with cowpox could...

Defeating superbugs | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

Defeating superbugs | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

BBC Two | 2013 | 2'57''

Could it be, that of all people, the Victorians had the answer to defeating superbugs all along?

How the COVID-19 Vaccine Works | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

How the COVID-19 Vaccine Works | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

BBC Four | 2021 | 3'44''

Dr Kizzmekia Corbett, part of the team that developed one of the COVID-19 vaccinations, explain...

Antibacterial resistance | Bang Goes the Theory

Antibacterial resistance | Bang Goes the Theory

BBC One | 2013 | 3'24''

A demonstration of how bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics.

Ring Vaccination and the Eradication of Smallpox | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

Ring Vaccination and the Eradication of Smallpox | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

BBC Four | 2021 | 3'44''

In the late 1960s, William Foege was running out of smallpox vaccine in Niger...

How do vaccines protect the population? | Horizon

How do vaccines protect the population? | Horizon

BBC Two | 2020 | 2'27''

Hannah Fry demonstrates how vaccines help to protect human populations and provide protection to those that cannot receive ...

The Power of Soap | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

The Power of Soap | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

BBC Four | 2021 | 3'11''

How scientists and doctors finally realised the power of soap in preventing the spread of diseases, and how ...

Stem Cell Research | How Science Changed Our World

Stem Cell Research | How Science Changed Our World

BBC One | 2010 | 2'34''

Professor Robert Winston explores the medical potential in stem cell research, and meets a team of scientists at Imperial ...

Variolation; the fore-runner to vaccination | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

Variolation; the fore-runner to vaccination | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

BBC Four | 2021 | 5'24''

Around 1700, an enslaved man who was trafficked to Boston brought with him the kno...

The Human Genome Project | How Science Changed Our World

The Human Genome Project | How Science Changed Our World

BBC One | 2010 | 4'41''

Professor Robert Winston explores how the Human Genome Project and gene therapy could help revolutionise diagnosis, ...

An introduction to phagocytes | Inside the Human Body

An introduction to phagocytes | Inside the Human Body

BBC One | 2011 | 1'41''

Michael Mosley looks at how white blood cells, called phagocytes, fight bacteria inside our blood.

Embryonic stem cells | i-Science

Embryonic stem cells | i-Science

BBC Two | 2009 | 4'36''

Stem cell research raises ethical issues, which makes some people uncomfortable about it, in spite of the potential benefits.

The role of T cells and antibodies when fighting an infection | Inside the Human Body

The role of T cells and antibodies when fighting an infection | Inside the Human Body

BBC One | 2011 | 3'08''

Using state-of-the-art graphics, Michael Mosley explains what happens when a virus ente...

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria as evidence for evolution | Michael Mosley vs The Superbugs

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria as evidence for evolution | Michael Mosley vs The Superbugs

BBC Four | 2017 | 3'34''

Michael Mosley explains how bacteria can naturally evolve to be resistant to an...

Pain message | Pain, Pus and Poison: The Search for Modern Medicine

Pain message | Pain, Pus and Poison: The Search for Modern Medicine

BBC Four | 2013 | 3'01''

Painkillers act at different points along the pain pathways to turn the pain response down.

Horizontal gene transfer | Michael Mosley vs The Superbugs

Horizontal gene transfer | Michael Mosley vs The Superbugs

BBC Four | 2017 | 2'26''

Michael Mosley explains and illustrates horizontal gene transfer between bacteria, and how it spreads antibiotic r...

The disadvantages of broad-spectrum antibiotics | Michael Mosley vs The Superbugs

The disadvantages of broad-spectrum antibiotics | Michael Mosley vs The Superbugs

BBC Four | 2017 | 2'14''

Michael Mosley explains and illustrates how the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics can lead ...

Viruses and vaccines | Pain, Pus and Poison: The Search for Modern Medicine

Viruses and vaccines | Pain, Pus and Poison: The Search for Modern Medicine

BBC Four | 2013 | 7'02''

The discovery of vaccines has helped scientists to tackle a variety of viruses.

The rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria | Michael Mosley vs The Superbugs

The rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria | Michael Mosley vs The Superbugs

BBC Four | 2017 | 1'12''

Michael Mosley introduces the problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and Superbugs.

The body's complex repair system | The Human Body : The Secrets of Your Life Revealed

The body's complex repair system | The Human Body : The Secrets of Your Life Revealed

BBC Two | 2017 | 3'17''

How our bodies respond and repair when we are injured.

Antibiotic Resistance | The Truth About…

Antibiotic Resistance | The Truth About…

BBC One | 2019 | 2'25''

Angela Rippon gives a brief introduction to the antibiotic resistance crisis.

Antibodies and vaccines | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

Antibodies and vaccines | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 2'49''

Alice explains what an antibody is and how they relate to getting vaccinated.

Making medicines

Finding Existing Drugs that Work Against COVID-19 | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

Finding Existing Drugs that Work Against COVID-19 | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

BBC Four | 2021 | 2'27''

Looking for drugs to treat COVID-19, a team of scientists established one of...

The testing of penicillin on mice | Mutant Mouse

The testing of penicillin on mice | Mutant Mouse

BBC Four | 2009 | 2'56''

How and why penicillin was tested on mice to discover its uses.

The Development of Anti-Retroviral Drugs to Treat HIV | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

The Development of Anti-Retroviral Drugs to Treat HIV | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

BBC Four | 2021 | 4'14''

The story of how Professor David Ho worked in a team to develop the firs...

Discovery of penicillin | Pain, Pus and Poison: The Search for Modern Medicine

Discovery of penicillin | Pain, Pus and Poison: The Search for Modern Medicine

BBC Four | 2013 | 5'55''

Fleming initially discovered the antibacterial properties of mould that would lead to the disc...

The Development of Anti-Viral Drugs | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

The Development of Anti-Viral Drugs | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

BBC Four | 2021 | 4'59''

The story and science behind Gertrude Elion and George Hitching's development of a revolut...

The Discovery of Penicillin | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

The Discovery of Penicillin | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

BBC Four | 2021 | 4'03''

The story of how Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered penicillin.

The Scientists Using AI to find New Solutions to Antibiotic Resistance | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

The Scientists Using AI to find New Solutions to Antibiotic Resistance | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

BBC Four | 2021 | 6'19''

How can the antibiotic resistance crisis be addressed? ...

Cell biology

Sickle cell disease | Storyville

Sickle cell disease | Storyville

BBC Four | 2020 | 6'07''

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disease, caused by a single change in the DNA sequence.

Genetic switches | The Cell

Genetic switches | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 3'40''

Adam Rutherford meets the scientist Walter Jakob Gehring, who worked with a team of scientists to understand genetic switches.

The immune system and white blood cells | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

The immune system and white blood cells | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 3'09''

Alice describes how the immune system works and what white blood cells do when we're ill.

The discovery of chromosomes | The Cell

The discovery of chromosomes | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 1'33''

Adam Rutherford explores how scientists used better microscopes and new chemical dyes to discover and name chromosomes.

White blood cells and the 'war' on infection | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

White blood cells and the 'war' on infection | Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young

BBC Two | 2008 | 4'01''

Alice explains how white blood cells fight infection and where they come from.

The first images of DNA | The Cell

The first images of DNA | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 3'16''

Adam Rutherford explains how the work of scientist Rosalind Franklin produced the first images of the structure of DNA.

Dance of the chromosomes | Bitesize Science

Dance of the chromosomes | Bitesize Science

BBC Two | 2014 | 1'54''

Mitosis is a type of cell replication that is essential to the human body's ability to grow and repair.

The production of proteins | The Cell

The production of proteins | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 1'44''

An explanation and visualisation of DNA, RNA, and the production of protein, the process at the heart of every living cell on earth.

Cell division | i-Science

Cell division | i-Science

BBC Two | 2009 | 2'23''

What is the role of mitosis and meiosis in the human body?

The structure of DNA | The Cell

The structure of DNA | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 2'48''

Adam Rutherford explains and illustrates the structure of DNA, and the way its discovery revealed the secret of how genes are reproduced when...

The process of mitosis | Short Circuit

The process of mitosis | Short Circuit

BBC Two | 2008 | 1'46''

The process of mitosis, seen through a microscope, and then illustrated and explained with a computer simulation.

The Discovery of Cell Division | The Cell

The Discovery of Cell Division | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 4'51''

How little-known scientist Robert Remak came to observe and describe the process of cell division for the first time.

Human defence systems | Secret Universe: The Hidden Life of the Cell

Human defence systems | Secret Universe: The Hidden Life of the Cell

BBC Two | 2012 | 4'00''

This simulation brings to life the process of a cell's defence against viruses.

The Identification of the Cell Nucleus | The Cell

The Identification of the Cell Nucleus | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 3'26''

How Robert Brown used the microscope to notice, identify and describe the nucleus, and discover its ubiquity in cells.

Key parts of the cell | Secret Universe: The Hidden Life of the Cell

Key parts of the cell | Secret Universe: The Hidden Life of the Cell

BBC Two | 2012 | 3'13''

An amazing visualisation of the cell's structure, and how DNA works within it.

The Invention of the Microscope | The Cell

The Invention of the Microscope | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 1'07''

Adam Rutherford explains how, in the 1670s, Dutch businessman Anton van Leeuwenhoek revolutionised microscopy by curving a lens mo...

What makes up a cell? | Short Circuit

What makes up a cell? | Short Circuit

BBC Two | 2008 | 45''

A computer simulation of a cell allows us to see the structure of a cell close-up.

What makes a human? | The Cell

What makes a human? | The Cell

BBC Four | 2009 | 1'51''

Adam Rutherford gives a basic introduction to cells, and how understanding them is the cornerstone of biology.

Photosynthesis

How iodine was used to discover starch in plant leaves | Botany: A Blooming History

How iodine was used to discover starch in plant leaves | Botany: A Blooming History

BBC Four | 2011 | 2'46''

How botanists made the connection between a plant's growth and the energy from the sun.

Rate of photosynthesis | i-Science

Rate of photosynthesis | i-Science

BBC Two | 2009 | 3'12''

Photosynthesis is the chemical reaction through which plants make glucose and oxygen. It is crucial to all life on Earth because it is the...

The discovery of chloroplast | Botany: A Blooming History

The discovery of chloroplast | Botany: A Blooming History

BBC Four | 2011 | 2'53''

Timothy Walker explains how Julius von Sachs discovered where starch was made in a plant, and how new microscopy te...

Safety in numbers | Life

Safety in numbers | Life

BBC Two | 2021 | 4'06''

A clan of hyenas work together to protect themselves from lions.

An introduction to photosynthesis | Short Circuit

An introduction to photosynthesis | Short Circuit

BBC Two | 2008 | 1'33''

An introduction to how plants photosynthesise using chlorophyll, and how important the process is in maintaining the balanc...

Searching for sunlight | Life

Searching for sunlight | Life

BBC One | 2009 | 7'16''

Different species of plants adopt a variety of ingenius techniques to secure much needed sunlight.

Calvin-Benson cycle | Botany: A Blooming History

Calvin-Benson cycle | Botany: A Blooming History

BBC Four | 2011 | 5'37''

How Benson and Calvin established the biochemical reactions involved in photosynthesis.

How photosynthesis is vital to the success of farming | Science of the Harvest

How photosynthesis is vital to the success of farming | Science of the Harvest

BBC Two | 2013 | 5'45''

Stefan Gates reveals how we can see photosynthesis in action using some simple props.

Generation of clean fuels | Botany: A Blooming History

Generation of clean fuels | Botany: A Blooming History

BBC Four | 2011 | 3'50''

Scientists harnessing the processes in photosynthesis.

Plant reproduction

The reproduction of an Oak tree | Oak Tree: Nature's Greatest Survivor

The reproduction of an Oak tree | Oak Tree: Nature's Greatest Survivor

BBC Four | 2015 | 2'09''

George McGavin investigates the reproduction of an oak tree, and how millions of tiny pollen grains tr...

The dead-horse arum and the titan arum | The Private Life of Plants

The dead-horse arum and the titan arum | The Private Life of Plants

BBC Two | 2014 | 6'10''

David Attenborough describes how the dead-horse arum and the titan arum are able to reproduce.

Cunning Cacti | Life

Cunning Cacti | Life

BBC One | 2009 | 6'12''

This cacti deploys a variety of methods to maximise its chances of successful seed dispersal.

The pollination process | The Private Life of Plants

The pollination process | The Private Life of Plants

BBC Two | 2014 | 4'57''

David Attenborough describes the process of pollination and how this helps plants reproduce.

Flower power | Life

Flower power | Life

BBC One | 2009 | 5'15''

Flowers lure pollinators to ensure that plants can reproduce.

Flight of the bumblebee | The Private Life of Plants

Flight of the bumblebee | The Private Life of Plants

BBC Two | 2014 | 4'11''

David Attenborough explores the role of insects, especially bees, in the pollination process.

Germination | Bitesize Science

Germination | Bitesize Science

BBC Two | 2014 | 3'19''

Seeds need the conditions to right in order to be able to germinate.

Clones | i-Science

Clones | i-Science

BBC Two | 2009 | 3'34''

Daphne and Barbara are so similar because they are clones, two people who have exactly the same genetic makeup. When their mother was pregnant, her fertil...

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