Careers in Science: Biologist

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.

Deep-Sea Vents and Life's Origins
Deep-sea vents are home to life forms that do not rely on the Sun's energy. They depend instead on energy from volcanoes on the ocean floor. This video segment adapted from NOVA hypothesizes that life on Earth may have begun in this extreme environment.

Dolly Garza: A Tlingit and Haida Scientist
In this interactive resource adapted from Raven Radio/KCAW, listen to biologist Dr. Dolly Garza as she explores the sea otter population of Sitka, Alaska, from the perspectives of her tribal heritage and her Western education.

Dustin Madden: Science Teacher
In this video profile produced for Teachers' Domain, meet teacher Dustin Madden, an Iñupiaq who hopes to inspire students to take an active role in protecting the natural environment by giving them a foundation in math and science.

E. O. Wilson: Ants and Ecosystems
This segment is from an interview with ant specialist and biologist E.O. Wilson, filmed for Evolution: "Evolutionary Arms Race."

Evolving Ideas: How Does Evolution Really Work?
The process of evolution through natural selection is the focus of this video segment from Evolution, which presents a field study of hummingbird speciation in Ecuador.

Field Biology
This video segment from the teacher video series Learning That Works uses a case study to highlight the effectiveness of a project-based, real-world approach to teaching science.

Finding Disease Genes
This video segment from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" explains the process of finding genes that cause disease.

Fish with Fingers
In this video segment from Evolution: "Great Transformations," paleontologist Jenny Clack explains that vertebrates evolved fingers before they invaded land.

Gene Control
The development of creatures that appear to have nothing in common is directed by a surprisingly small number of genes. In this video segment, learn about the power of master control genes. Footage from The Secret of Life: "Birth, Sex & Death."

Genetic Modification
This video segment from NOVA: "Cracking the Code of Life" looks at the potential created by understanding the human genome.

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."

Guess How Whales Hear!
This video segment explores how one marine biologist used the scientific process to discover how whales hear.

HIV Immunity
Although repeatedly exposed to HIV, Steve Crohn's blood cells were never infected. Dr. David Ho investigates in this video segment from NOVA: "Surviving AIDS."

Human Chromosome 2
In this video segment adapted from NOVA: "Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial," learn how modern genetics and molecular biology offer compelling support for evolution. The video features an interview with biologist Ken Miller.

Hummingbird Species in the Transitional Zones
This video segment from Evolution: "Darwin's Dangerous Idea" shows biologists Chris Schneider and Tom Smith studying hummingbirds and other animals in Ecuador. Their research is investigating the processes by which new species are formed.

La'ona DeWilde: Environmental Biologist
In this video profile produced for Teachers' Domain, meet La'ona DeWilde, an environmental biologist who integrates her Athabascan heritage and her Western scientific training to help remote Alaskan villages address environmental issues.

Laetoli Footprints
This Evolution video segment describes how the famous track fossils known as the Laetoli footprints might have been formed and what they can reveal about the creatures who left them.

Moriussaq: A Case Study in Hearing Loss
This video segment follows neurophysiologist Allen Counter as he studies an epidemic of hearing loss in Moriussaq, Greenland, one of the quietest places on Earth. Footage from NOVA: "Mystery of the Senses: Hearing."

Pearl and Hermes Atoll
This video segment adapted from the NOW-RAMP 2002 Expedition documents a research expedition to Pearl and Hermes Atoll in Hawai`i. Watch as biologists assess the bird and plant populations and then work to eradicate invasive species.

Prairie Dogs
In this video adapted from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, learn about the prairie dog, the importance of its role in its ecosystem, and how it is affected by an ever-growing human population.

The Red Queen
An example of the Red Queen hypothesis, the sexual population of Mexican Poeciliid fish are able to keep up with a changing environment, while the asexual populations are not as successful. From Evolution: "Why Sex?"

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.

Steve MacLean: Conservationist
In this video profile produced for Teachers' Domain, meet conservationist Steve MacLean, an Iñupiaq from Barrow, Alaska, who works to preserve the health of the Bering Sea ecosystem.

Taqulik Hepa: North Slope Natural Resources
In this audio profile adapted from Raven Radio/KCAW, Alaska Native Taqulik Hepa, deputy director for the Department of Wildlife Management for the North Slope Borough, discusses resource management and subsistence living.

Toxic Newts
The father and son team of Brodie and Brodie track down the predator able to stomach a mysteriously hyper-toxic newt, an example of an evolutionary arms race in action. From Evolution: "Evolutionary Arms Race."

Unhinged!
This video segment explores the integral relationship between structure and function in snakes.

Wildlife Biology
In this What's Up in the Environment? video segment, learn how various indicator species are used to monitor the environmental condition of the Everglades.