Lessons
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1.  The Microbial Universe
The world of microorganisms is a dynamic one,
and all other life forms depend on microbial metabolic activity. Recent genetic research
has uncovered only about one percent of the microbes that remain to be discovered.
2. The Unity of Living
Systems
All cellular organisms — prokaryotic and
eukaryotic — share basic chemical similarities. Out of these similarities, however,
emerge diverse patterns of cell assembly. Students encounter the tools to understand
various cell types and their relationship to noncell entities such as viruses.
3. Metabolism
The metabolic pathways that produce energy
create important environmental transformations. Although living organisms have diverse
ways of meeting their energy needs, there is an amazing similarity between all life forms
as they carry out metabolism directed to the construction and use of necessary biological
molecules.
4. Reading the Code of
Life
DNA is central to cell activity, replicating
with great fidelity and carrying the information for all proteins. Organisms also regulate
the products made from genes in an effort to conserve energy and adapt to new
environments.
5. Genetic Transfer
Microbial populations achieve genetic diversity
through horizontal gene transfer. Bacteria may transfer genes from one to another by
conjugation, transformation, or transduction. Scientists often exploit these processes
through recombinant DNA.
6. Microbial Evolution
Recent genetic techniques have led to new
theories of evolution and the relationships between organisms. Students examine this
"evolution revolution," using molecular sequences to trace the phylogenetic
relationships of microbial life. Both the big picture of microbial evolution and the
methods necessary for determining molecular phylogenies are examined.
7. Microbial Diversity
What is the relationship between the bacteria,
archaea, and eukaryote branches of the tree of life, with their startling variety of
organisms? Students see comparisons of organisms in their natural habitats and examine
ways of studying these organisms in those habitats and in the laboratory.
8. Microbial Ecology
Humans and all life forms depend on
microorganisms as the essential processors of oxygen, mineral nutrients for plant growth,
and waste materials. Here we investigate some of the important environments dominated by
microbes and how their presence is essential for human life.
9. Microbial Control
In certain situations, microbial control is a
necessity. For instance, our food system requires sanitary conditions and hospitals
require sterilization techniques. Here we see the options available for various levels of
microbial control.
10. Microbial Interactions
There are many symbiotic relationships among
microbes and between microbes and higher organisms. Microorganisms have developed
mechanisms to defeat animals' defenses against disease. Examples of beneficial and harmful
symbiotic relationships are examined here.
11. Human Defenses
Both nonspecific and specific defense strategies
can defeat the invasion of microbial pathogens. Students learn about the coordinated
defense system of humans through visual analogy, animation, and examples of specific
diseases.
12. Microbes and Human
Diseases
How microbes come into contact with humans, and
the many factors leading to disease outbreaks around the globe, are examined here.
Students learn about current efforts to track infectious diseases and the considerations
necessary to control disease worldwide.
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About This Course
This is a video instructional series for college and high
school classrooms and adult learners. The subject is covered in 12 half-hour video
programs.
Free sign up required for first-time users (but don't look for the sign-up
page, it will find you)..
To hear the sound and view video, you should have Windows Media Player, DSL, a cable modem,
or a LAN connection to a T1 line or greater, and have Javascript enabled.
Acknowledgements
Video for Unseen Life on Earth: An Introduction to
Microbiology and the individual lesson descriptions are provided courtesty of
Annenberg/CPB.
This site is not affiliated with nor endorsed by
Annenberg/CPB |
