Blood and circulation are explained in this program through the story of a sickle cell sufferer. By looking at the ways in which sickle cell affects the body, the program explains how the blood circulatory system operates and also how technology is being used to improve diagnosis and treatment of a major disease. The program provides a complete introduction to the following topics: Blood structure and function; The heart and circulation; Hemoglobin;...

After an introductory segment on cell characteristics, this program discusses the way human body cells function and combine into the structures that sustain life. Topics include membrane permeability and the processes of passive and active transport; cytoplasm, with its cytosol, organelles, and inclusions; the constituent parts of the nucleus and the stages and processes of the cell cycle; the four basic tissue types; and the skin, the body's largest...

The final program recapitulates and reviews the principal messages of the curriculum as it summarizes the functions and designs of the body's major systems and organs and the methods by which they interact.

In this virtual journey through the cell, viewers become familiar with cells and their properties. The program describes and shows examples of cells of many shapes and sizes, and explores the structure and functions of different types of cells. Eukaryotes and prokaryotes are defined, and plant and animal cells are compared. Emphasizing cells as the basic building blocks of all organisms, another segment describes the organization of cells and the...

This program begins by looking at a typical day in the life of a cystic fibrosis sufferer. The structure and function of the lungs are seen through a mixture of computer graphics and real-life video. The problems encountered with cystic fibrosis are compared with the functioning of a normal healthy lung. The program provides a complete introduction to the following topics: The lungs and associated organs; Ventilation of the lungs and gas exchange;...

This program explains why the body needs regular supplies of air and how it gets them. The camera follows the process of breathing through the ultra-thin membrane of the lung into the blood, showing how the varying demand for oxygen is met by the exchange of information between the brain and the chest muscles and how the body rids itself of carbon dioxide.

Genetically speaking, only half a percent's difference separates any two human beings in the world, less of a difference than that between any two chimpanzees or gorillas. In this program, Robert Krulwich, the engaging science correspondent for ABC News, joins Eric Lander, professor at MIT's Whitehead Institute, to provide a concise look at the results of the Human Genome Project, a fascinating roundup of discoveries that truly puts the human race...

This program deals with events when the entire body is under attack-when bacteria or viruses invade the whole system. It shows the roles of the spleen, the lymphatic system, and the white blood cells, and explains the body's production of antibodies. With the common cold as the main example, it demonstrates the sequence from viral attack to recovery.

This program covers the circulatory system's important roles in transportation, purification, and regulation. Topics include the structure and function of the heart; the role of blood as a connective tissue; arteries, veins, and the flow of blood; the functions of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma; the lymphatic system; and maintaining a healthy circulatory system.

Using the analogy of an automobile's system of fuel intake and exhaust, this program explores the makeup and functions of the respiratory system. Topics include the processes of respiration; the organs involved in respiration; why cells need oxygen; structure and functions of the lungs; relationship between the brain and the respiratory system; and a detailed look at what's behind the "simple" act of breathing.