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By their very nature, sports competitions push the human body to its limits. In this program, we examine four bodily systems-skeletal, muscular, respiratory, and circulatory-to demonstrate how our anatomy enables us to be physically active. Extensive computer graphics and sports footage provide a comprehensive overview of the subject.
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An introduction to human biology-the subject of that most fascinating human study, ourselves. The program shows a wide range of human activities, and how the body enables us to live in diverse climates and perform diverse activities. Extraordinary close-up filming over the body's exterior and in its interior causes surface differences to fade away and enables viewers to see the immensely complex and interactive systems that constitute the living body....
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The longevity revolution is under way! In this program, gerontologist Michael Rose introduces viewers to recent breakthroughs in life extension science-and approaches to staying alive until those technologies become readily available. Biological age measurement, caloric restriction, stem cell therapy, cryobiology, and artery-cruising nanobots are discussed, as well as experiments being conducted to increase the life span of mice via nutritional supplements,...
4) Biometrics
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Technology is taking the field of biometrics to new levels of accuracy and efficiency. But is the price of such security, achieved by turning over unique bodily information to governments and private companies, too high? And is biometric data really as foolproof as its proponents say? This program travels the globe to showcase examples of high-tech biometrics in action, including electronic recognition of iris patterns, fingerprints, faces, hand vein...
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With nano-enabled drugs that destroy diseased cells and enable tissue repair, doctors may one day extend life expectancy far beyond our current capabilities - at least in countries wealthy enough to afford the technology. But the medicine that so radically redefines our standards of health and mortality will also profoundly challenge our social support systems and cultural values. In this Fred Friendly Seminar, moderator and Peabody award-winning...
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This concise program-ideal for use as a lecture launcher-summarizes the evolution of medical knowledge in the Western world with numerous drawings, paintings, diagrams, and clips of historical footage. Highlighted moments in the quest for a more thorough understanding of disease and the human body are augmented by capsule case studies and intriguing information on the effects of both the Scientific Revolution and religion on the field of medicine....
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Beneath our skin, numerous complex and beautiful systems sustain life. It can be easy to take those processes for granted, though, because so many of them occur without any conscious effort. Over the course of this program, viewers will discover the hidden wonders of the skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous systems and how they all work in conjunction with each other to create the amazing machine we call the human body. Very...
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This program takes a look at the mechanics of the body's internal defense system. The protected environment of the womb is contrasted with the pathogen-laden environment of the post-birth world. Passive immunity is distinguished from the body's active lines of defense: the skin and its secretions, the inflammatory response, phagocytes, and lymphocytes. Case studies involving chicken pox, tetanus, and tuberculosis show different ways the human immune...
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This program concentrates on the nervous and endocrine systems. A soccer match offers an opportunity to investigate how neurons work and how a simple reflex arc functions. Footage of infants illustrates the processes of neural network growth and coordination acquisition. A Penfield map opens the door to a study of the senses, with an emphasis on vision. The links between chemical activity in the brain and behavior are examined. And an analysis of...
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This program offers an overview of genetics and cloning as they occur both in nature and in the laboratory while addressing the ethical and social implications of genetic engineering. Genes, chromosomes, and DNA are identified, and the process of cell fertilization is demonstrated. Identical human twins are presented as an example of naturally occurring clones. The synthesis of human insulin using recombinant DNA technology, the production of alpha-1...
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Health advocates continuously speak out on the need for physical fitness-but providing the skills to analyze and measure fitness isn't always part of the educational package. This program addresses that crucial dimension of fitness training, guiding viewers through the major components of testing strength, endurance, and other aspects of fitness. Distinguishing between health-related fitness and skill- or performance-related fitness, the video demonstrates...
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Is there such a thing as a perfect recollection or photographic memory? This program examines that question and others related to the brain's ability to store knowledge. Using a wide range of examples, the program demonstrates that even the sharpest mental recording is subjective, selective, incomplete, even faulty. Students also learn how the performance of elite athletes may be tied to muscle memory, which facilitates previously learned actions...
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This program examines how oxygen and carbon dioxide are transported throughout the body, guided by the brain as it reacts to internal and external stimuli. The process of breathing is modeled by a swimmer, the control of breathing by the brain is analyzed, and oxygen intake by the lungs and transport by red blood cells are discussed. The complementary actions of the circulatory and respiratory systems to meet the body's energy needs are identified,...
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How do plants and animals stave off overheating and dehydration under a relentless sun-especially when burdened with thick skins, hides, or shells? This program looks at adaptations and survival techniques that cope with intense heat, particularly in desert environments. Venturing into the Sonora Desert, viewers learn about the sprawling root system of the saguaro cactus and the water recycling abilities of the desert tortoise. Moving into the human...
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Apart from the reproductive system, how else are women anatomically different from men? And how do physiological differences influence how the female body reacts to diseases and medications? Enhanced by 3-D graphics, this program explores the emerging field of gender-based biology. Officers of the Society for the Advancement of Women's Health Research and the Partnership for Women's Health at Columbia discuss the possibility of gender-specific medications,...
16) Homeostasis
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This program investigates how the body controls its internal environment. The steady state of the Earth's biosphere is compared to that of the human body. An automated greenhouse and a computerized inventory system demonstrate how negative feedback loops use detection and response to maintain their own balanced states. The regulation of body temperature in response to extreme heat and cold is explored both in a sauna and on a mountain slope. The roles...
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A tough outer layer can come in handy, but the strongest defense isn't always the thickest. This program explores all kinds of bodily protection, from animal hides and shells to artificial armor to human skin-showing how anatomy and technology have evolved to guard against potential dangers. Viewers meet sea and land creatures with sophisticated protective suits, including lobsters, snails, turtles, alligators, sharks, and abalone-which sport some...
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If great runners are born, not made, what roles do training and technology play? Will cutting-edge engineering and chemistry create vehicles that move faster than previously thought possible? This program presents a quest to understand speed in all its manifestations. Viewers get a look at the North American Eagle, an automobile that's more fighter jet than car, designed to challenge the world land speed record. At the Walthamstow dog track in east...
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Food has taken on so many meanings over the ages that we often forget what it really is: a source of chemical energy. This program takes a scientific look at food, showing how people and animals capture nutrients while revealing some disturbing eating habits with hidden benefits. After a look at the importance of fire and yeast in early culinary history, viewers experience "molecular gastronomy" at a Chicago restaurant where lasers, centrifuges, and...
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This collection of 7 dazzling video clips focuses on various aspects of genetics ranging from history's DNA eureka moment, paternity testing, structural degradation of DNA, and tumor research using transgenic mice; to a human death gene and the role of stem cells in a freshwater polyp known as the hydra; to a case of gender/chromosome mismatch in which a girl is unable to naturally mature into a woman. Video clips include. * Genes: The Discovery...