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Branches on the Tree of Life: The Biology of Protists

20 minutes 4 seconds

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Microscopic view of a transparent tube-shaped organism. Caption: an energy reserve the cell can draw on

Part of the "Branches on the Tree of Life" series. The term "protist" covers a wide range of microscopic organisms formerly clumped into "Kingdom Protista." New molecular analyses show that the protistan lines of evolution go so far back in time they can be considered as different kingdoms of life. Through photography of living protists, amoebas, flagellates, algae, and the elegant ciliated protists are introduced in ten learning modules. Accessibility options on the DVD are: (1) expanded description, (2) English subtitles in a black box, (3) subtitled description.

Media Details

Runtime: 20 minutes 4 seconds

Illustration of plant structure. Caption: the photon's energy transfers to an electron.
Branches On The Tree of Life
Episode 1
14 minutes 1 seconds
Grade Level: 8 - 12
Sea floor with irregularly shaped white objects on it. Caption: composed almost entirely of hexactinellid sponges.
Branches On The Tree of Life
Episode 2
14 minutes 52 seconds
Grade Level: 8 - 12
Microscopic view of a transparent tube-shaped organism. Caption: an energy reserve the cell can draw on
Branches On The Tree of Life
Episode 3
20 minutes 4 seconds
Grade Level: 8 - 12
Tangle of thread-like substance. Caption: consisted of a nucleic acid core composed of either DNA or RNA
Branches On The Tree of Life
Episode 4
17 minutes 45 seconds
Grade Level: 8 - 12
Blurry microscopic view of an oval shaped object surrounded by green particles. Caption: In nature, these small organisms become links in food chains
Branches On The Tree of Life
Episode 4
17 minutes 19 seconds
Grade Level: 8 - 12
Straight line of light against a light blue background. Caption: in the 50-to-80-micrometer range.
Branches On The Tree of Life
Episode 5
19 minutes 31 seconds
Grade Level: 8 - 12
Closeup view of thin, light green tube-like structures growing off stone. Caption: and absorb the products of digestion,
Branches On The Tree of Life
Episode 6
21 minutes 20 seconds
Grade Level: 8 - 12
A cell being viewed under a microscope. Caption: you can clearly see many of the larger structures
Branches On The Tree of Life
Episode 7
17 minutes 33 seconds
Grade Level: 9 - 12
A sea anemone with a captured crab, surrounded by other plant life. Caption: Even a large crab can be digested within a few hours.
Branches On The Tree of Life
Episode 8
12 minutes 25 seconds
Grade Level: 8 - 12
Underwater plants with small fish swimming through them. Caption: Flatworms were around for a long time.
Branches On The Tree of Life
Episode 9
14 minutes 43 seconds
Grade Level: 8 - 12