Catalog Branches on the Tree of Life: The Biology of...
The BRANCHES ON THE TREE OF LIFE:  The Biology of... series of core curriculum programs explores the "deep branches" on the tree of life to reveal a modern view of the classification and phylogeny of each group studied in the biology curricula. The narrated programs feature new techniques of microscopy, animation, and photography to reveal the structure, process, and behavior in living things. All DVD programs include an illustrated PDF Teaching Guide. The most recent DVDs also contain an Image Bank of dynamic still photographs for use in lecture, discussion, and review. The narrated video programs are also available on VHS and Digital Media Files(DMF) formatted and licensed for your delivery system. For individual or single school building license purchase and download full play version here with a credit/debit card, for other licensing organizations or formats or to use a purchase order call 877.551.5355.


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Branches on the Tree of Life: The Biology of...

The Biology of Plants
 NEW! Clear graphic animation is used to describe the molecular-level mechanisms of photosynthesis. Major plant groups are featured in this program, including mosses, liverworts, ferns, horsetails, and the seed plants (gymnosperms and flowering plants). This is a good general introduction to the members of the green kingdom and their life cycles.

The Biology of Sponges
 Imagine an animal with no mouth, no digestive system, no excretory or circulatory organs, no brain nor nervous system, and no movement as an adult. In spite of their simple nature, sponges are actually one of the most fascinating animal phyla, when viewed in developmental, ecological, and evolutionary terms. Through animations and timelapse microscopy, this program clarifies the structure, function, classification, and ecological roles of sponges.

The Biology of Protists
 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 stunning photography of living protists, students are introduced to amoebas, flagellates, algae, and the elegant ciliated protists in ten learning modules.

The Biology of Viruses & Bacteria
 This program describes the discovery of viruses and their structure, how viruses are studied, how they infect their hosts, and how they replicate. Details are provided on the T-4 bacteriophage and retroviruses such as HIV.

The Biology of Algae
 The term algae is a catchall for several evolutionary lines of photosynthetic organisms: dinoflagellates, red algae (plastids with chlorophyll A), diatoms, yellow-brown algae and brown algae (chlorophylls A and C), and green algae (chlorophylls A and B). This program explores the diversity, structure, ecological roles, and modern classification of these vital primary producers.

The Biology of Fungi
 Fungi explores the structure, life cycles, ecology, classification, and evolutionary relationships of four major lines of fungi: Chytrids, Zygomycetes (various molds), Ascomycetes (yeasts, cup fungi, and most lichens), and Basidiomycetes (rusts and mushrooms). Emphasis is on adaptations and reproductive mechanisms.

The Light Microscope: Window on a Microcosm

NEW! This program demonstrates techniques for using a student microscope to achieve spectacular images. Emphasis is on correct lighting procedures and the techniques required for viewing living cells.

The Biology of Cnidarians
 The program begins with a remarkable series of observations on Hydra including: habitat, structure, feeding, nematocyst discharge, locomotion (by looping), and its sexual and asexual reproductive strategies. Obelia illustrates the two-stage life cycle found in many cnidarians. Examining the biology of jellyfish (class Scyphozoa), sea anemones, and corals (class Anthozoa) rounds out our treatment of phylum Cnidaria.

The Biology of Flatworms
 This program shows the structure, behavior, and life cycles of planarians and their free-living relatives (class Turbellaria). It illustrates the bizarre life cycles of flukes (class Trematoda) and tapeworms (class Cestoda) with detailed animations and revealing images of these parasites in action.

The Biology of Rotifers and Nematodes
 The diversity of rotifers is stunning, and this program shows many different species. Planktonic rotifers have special adaptations for open water life. Nematodes (round-worms) include a number of important human parasites, seldom seen but easily found. Tree moss, leaf litter, and compost piles swarm with nematodes.

The Biology of Annelids
 Worms with segmented bodies make up the Phylum Annelida. This program explores the three classes of annelids: Class Polychaeta (feeding, locomotion, and larval stages), Class Oligochaeta (lifestyles, feeding adaptations, and anatomy of freshwater oligochaetes and earth worms), and Class Hirudinea (leeches, crayfish, and worms show adaptations for commensal, parasitic, and scavenger lifestyles). DNA evidence places annelids close to the molluscs on the tree of life.

The Biology of Echinoderms
 Echinoderms are one branch of the deuterostome line of animal evolution, the branch to which Chordates also belong. Narrated modules cover phylum characteristics and key biological details for five classes: sea stars, brittle stars and basket stars, sea urchins and sand dollars (including developmental stages), sea cucumbers, and crinoids (feather stars).

The Biology of Molluscs
 Phylum Mollusca is the second most diverse phylum of animals, with over 100,000 known species. First examined are the basic characteristics of the phylum - a soft body, muscular foot, mantle cavity with gill, and hard calcified shell. The four most familiar classes of molluscs (chitons; gastropods, bivalves, and cephalopods) are studied in depth, viewing structure, life history, adaptations, and ecological interactions.

The Biology of Chordates
 The Phylum Chordata includes tunicates, sea lancelets, hagfish, and all familiar vertebrate animals. This program explores how these seemingly diverse animals evolved and how the group is unified by four characteristic structures: a hollow dorsal nerve chord, a supportive notochord, gill slits, and a post-anal tail. Key milestones in vertebrate evolution included improvements in swimming and feeding, the evolution of paired fins and a primitive lung, movement onto the land, and the amniotic egg.

The Biology of Arthropods
 Phylum Arthropoda is the most luxuriant branch on the tree of life. This program covers phylum characteristics and three major arthropod classes: Crustaceans (copepods, waterfleas, branchiopods, decapods, and barnacles), Chelicerates (scorpions, pseudoscorpions, spiders, ticks, and mites), Uniramians (centipedes, millipedes, and insects). In each section the focus is on adaptations, life cycles, and evolutionary relationships.


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