You may have heard of cancer immunotherapies. But what are they and how do they work? Learn how a T cell is able to recognize the difference between our own healthy tissues and foreign things that need to be destroyed, like cells infected by bacteria or viruses. Immunotherapies are designed to help T cells find…
How 3 Scientists Found that DNA is the Molecule of Heredity - Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty
It’s hard to imagine a time when we didn’t know about DNA, what it is made of, and how important it is in biology. Avery, MacLeod and McCarty conducted this seminal experiment to discover the molecule of heredity: DNA! This fundamental discovery formed the basis for biology as we know it, and all that has…
The Hershey and Chase Experiment | Discovery of DNA as the genetic material
The Hershey-Chase experiment provided proof that DNA is the material inherited from one generation to the next. Check out the video to watch the elegant, yet simple experiment Dr. Hershey and Dr. Chase used back in 1952 to lay the foundation for modern day genetics. This video was first released as part of the Explorer’s…
Explaining Telomere Biology Disorders
Did you know that every chromosome in our body has a protective cap like the cap of a pen called telomere? Learn what telomeres are, what they are for and what can happen to our body when they’re abnormally short. This video was produced in collaboration with Team Telomere.
Bugs as Drugs
Scientists are reinventing ways that bacteria can be beneficial for human health. Watch this video to learn more about how bacteria may be a next generation medicine using an example of people with phenylketonuria, a metabolic disorder that makes it difficult for people to digest a particular amino acid. References: Synlogic Therapeutics Isabella et al….
What is PIGA-CDG?
PIGA-CDG is a rare and potentially devastating metabolic disorder that affects development across many systems of the body. Learn more about the function of PIGA in the human body, the symptoms of the disorder and potential areas of research for treatment. For additional information, visit www.piga-cdg.com.
Mini-course: Sexual and asexual reproduction
Why do certain species reproduce sexual and others reproduce asexually? Learn how and why sexual and asexual reproduction have evolved and how they have contributed to the genetic diversity we see today! This video was produced in collaboration with iBiology.
Mini-course: What is the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium?
Learn all about the concept of combining Darwinian evolution and Mendelian genetics to study populations using fun practical examples! This video was produced in collaboration with iBiology.
3D Packaging of DNA Regulates Cell Identity
The fundamental mechanisms governing how cells form an identity such as becoming a muscle cell or a nerve cell are not fully understood. Multiple diseases, such as cancer, have been linked to cells going down the wrong developmental path during maturation. This new study conducted at the University of Pennsylvaniasuggests that the ability of a…
Progress and Promise of Stem Cell Research: Lou Gehrig’s Disease/ALS
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig’s disease is caused by the destruction of motor neurons. Find out how scientists are attempting to use stem cells as trojan horses to repair the injured motor neurons and produce new healthy motor neurons! Guest voiceover: Dr. Larry Goldstein This video was produced in collaboration with Americans For…