Topic: Cell Biology

Blood Vessels Help Tumors Grow
In this video segment, adapted from NOVA, Dr. Judah Folkman uses the scientific method to discover how cancer cells induce the formation of new blood vessels, which in turn nourish those cancer cells.

Caves: Extreme Conditions for Life
This video segment adapted from NOVA raises the provocative idea that if life can exist in the most extreme environments on Earth — such as in dark, toxic caves — then perhaps living things can also survive in harsh environments on other planets.

Cell Division
In this interactive activity adapted from the Exploratorium, explore the step-by-step process by which an animal cell divides to make more cells.

Cell Transcription and Translation
In this interactive activity adapted from the University of Nebraska, learn how and where transcription and translation occur within a cell and observe both processes in detail.

The Common Genetic Code
Paul Nurse describes his research that showed that humans share some genes with organisms as different from us as simple brewer's yeast. Footage from Secret of Life: "Immortal Thread."

DNA Databases
This video segment from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" investigates the promises and concerns surrounding the use of DNA databases.

DNA Makes History
Read how DNA was used to solve the mystery of the Romanov family's execution. From Human Genetics: Concepts and Applications by Ricki Lewis.

DNA Workshop
How does DNA perform those all-important functions of replication and protein synthesis? This interactive feature from the A Science Odyssey Web site will help you explore and understand the secrets of DNA.

Electron Transport Chain
This illustration from Biology by Kenneth R. Miller and Joseph Levine describes the steps of the electron transport chain, the second stage in the process of cellular respiration.

Explore a Stretch of Code
Try your hand at reading a segment of genetic code in this interactive feature from the NOVA "Cracking the Code of Life" Web site.

Finding Cures Is Hard
This video segment from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" explains the difficulty of curing genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

Forensic DNA Analysis
This video segment from NOVA: "The Killer's Trail" investigates the potential for DNA evidence to solve murder cases, even those from the distant past.

Frozen Frogs
This video segment adapted from NOVA scienceNOW shows how the common wood frog freezes solid every winter, an adaptation that allows the organism to survive the cold winter.

Gel Electrophoresis
This interactive activity from the Dolan DNA Learning Center illustrates the process of gel electrophoresis, in which DNA fragments are separated by size as they migrate at different rates through a gel matrix.

Genetic Art
Take a peek at the artistic side of science in this virtual exhibit, featuring work by Eva Sutton, Alexis Rockman and Sidney Harris.

Genetics: Tour of the Basics
In this interactive activity from the University of Utah, identify different kinds of genetic traits and how they are passed on from generation to generation. View examples of simple and complex trait inheritance.

Genetic Tool Kit
The shared set of genes for body segments, possessed by all animals, are discussed in this video segment from Evolution: "Great Transformations."

Genome Facts
This list from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" Web site provides some of the basic, yet impressive, facts and figures about the Human Genome Project.

How Cancer Grows
Follow the growth of a carcinoma from initial mutation to widespread metastasis in this feature from the NOVA: "Cancer Warrior" Web site.

How DNA Evidence Works
In this article by An Meeker-O'Connell, discover how DNA evidence is processed before it goes to court.

How Genetic Disorders Are Inherited
Learn how genetic disorders are passed from parents to children as explained in this excerpt from Blazing a Genetic Trail, from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Human Genome Project
This video segment from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" looks at the meaning and significance of the effort to decode the human genome.

Krebs Cycle
This illustration from Biology by Kenneth R. Miller and Joseph Levine describes the steps of the Krebs cycle, the critical first stage in the process of cellular respiration.

Mitochondria Functions and Training
This essay by Owen Anderson describes the effects of physical exercise on the number and function of mitochondria inside muscle cells.

Model Organisms
This interactive activity from the Dolan DNA Learning Center shows the different types of model organisms used in research and why each might be selected when performing an experiment.

Molecular Level of Genetics
Get down to the molecular nitty-gritty of DNA replication and protein synthesis in this article by Dennis O'Neil.

A Mutation Story
This video segment describes the role of the sickle cell gene in natural selection. Footage courtesy of the PBS series Secret of Life: "Accidents of Creation."

Romiya Glover
In this video from Science City, meet Romiya Glover, a chemist who develops products for HIV/AIDS testing. She describes the multidisciplinary nature of her job, how she decided to go into science, and how her work benefits others.

Organelles in the Cytoplasm
In this video segment from An Introduction to the Living Cell, explore the inner workings of a cell, including some of its most important organelles.

RNAi Discovered
In this video segment adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, learn how RNAi, a mechanism that has evolved in cells to prevent viral infection, was discovered and how it works.

RNAi Therapy
In this video segment adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, learn about RNAi's potential to treat a wide range of genetic and infectious diseases.

The Sequencing Race Begins
This video segment from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" looks at one of the key players in the race to decode the human genome.

Understanding Gene Testing
In this article by the National Cancer Institute and the National Center for Human Genome Research, find answers to your questions about genetic testing.