15 minutes

Cells and Molecules Cells and Molecules is organized into short-play learning modules, for concise instruction.

1. A Variety of Cells (1:25) Compares prokaryotes (spirilliform bacteria) and a eukaryote (small amoeba with prominent nucleus) and shows some of the diverse types of cells found in animals and plants.
2. Prokaryotes (00:40) Shows a Daphnia carcass undergoing bacterial decomposition; spiral bacteria 12 micrometers in length (from nutrient-rich pond water); a variety of decomposer bacteria, size range: 2-40 micrometers; Oscillatoria (from slow stream, near organic waste source).
3. Flagellates (00:38) Scenes include: Euglena (from pond sample), 60 micrometers (note the disc-shaped paramylum bodies used for starch storage); Peranema (from aquatic vegetation) 70-100 micrometers; Eudorina (pond plankton) 300 micrometers; Trichonympha (termite gut symbionts) 300-400 micrometers.
4. Amoebas (00:40) Organisms shown are: Amoeba (pond vegetation) 200 to 400 micrometers; Vahlkampfia (small amoeba from pond bottom), 20 micrometers; Arcella (pond scum), 80 micrometers.
5. Ciliates (1:00) Shows Paramecium (decomposing pond vegetation) 170 micrometers; Stentor (pond vegetation) 200 to 600 micrometers (the green coloration of the first species shown is due to symbiotic algae living in its cytoplasm); Euplotes (pond vegetation, bottom ooze) 70 to 150 micrometers (Euplotes represents a large group of ciliates that possess tendril-like cirri composed of fused cilia); Vorticella (on duckweed root) cells are about 70 micrometers across.
6. The Endosymbiotic Theory (1:10) A eukaryotic cell's energy transforming organelles, chloroplasts and mitochondria, appear to have originated as symbiotic prokaryotes.
7. Cell Organization (1:39) Provides an overview of the primary cell organelles: plasma membrane, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, mitochondria, and chloroplasts.
8. Overview of Organic Molecules (3:39) This module shows basic carbon bonding patterns, including the assembly and enzymatic breakdown of polymers.