This episode deals with the division of a unicellular eukaryote using Paramecium caudatum as an example. The mitotic fission process for vegetative reproduction and conjugation as part of sexual reproduction are explained.

This episode explores the step-by-step process and significance of meiosis, with repeated references to specific aspects of gamete development in mammals.

This episode focuses on the pioneer factor NR5A2 at the onset of mitosis in a zygote and the subsequent changes in the potential for differentiation, ranging from totipotency through pluripotency, multipotency and oligopotency to unipotency. In addition, it explains how cell nuclei can be stained with carmine acetic acid in order to observe mitosis.

The process of mitosis is explained step by step, starting from the initial state through prophase, metaphase, and anaphase to telophase. The difference in cytokinesis between plant cells and animal cells is described, followed by a brief overview of interphase.

In this episode, the importance of the cell cycle and mitosis is emphasised, using the example of progeria to explain the potential effects of mutations on cellular ageing when the cell cycle cannot proceed frequently enough. It also addresses the possibility of tumour development when apoptosis does not function adequately. Furthermore, the structure of a chromosome is explained, along with the concepts of karyogram, chromosome set, and degree of ploidy.

This episode explores the growth curve of a bacterial culture. First, the biological background is explained, then simple mathematical calculations are introduced, and finally, everything is calculated using a concrete example.

This episode explains how to culture and count bacteria in the lab, especially through dilution series, targeted cultivation on nutrient media in Petri dishes, and evaluation using the standard plate count method. The bacterial quantity can then be calculated based on the colony count and the dilution factor.

Prokaryotic DNA is attached to the plasma membrane and replicated before cell division. Procaryotes usually divides transversely; longitudinal division is rare but occurs in certain symbiotic bacteria such as Neisseriaceae. In symbiotic relationships, hosts can deliberately inhibit the cell division of their bacterial symbionts, for example through antibiotic proteins or interference with cell wall synthesis, allowing them to control the bacterial population.

The underwater archaeologist and research diver Helena Seidl-Da Fonseca reports on the responsibilities of the Curatorship for Pile Dwellings, which oversees the Austrian part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site around the Alps. In doing so, she explains both the archaeological and the biological aspects of the Neolithic settlement remains and provides insights into the scientific and societal challenges associated with this topic.

Several distinguished gentlemen – including a physician, an Egyptologist, and a travel writer – gather one night to jointly unwrap a 5,000-year-old mummy. By means of an experiment using Volta’s pile, the mummy is brought back to life, prompting a spirited exchange between the mummy and the gentlemen, with each side seeking to outdo the other with the achievements of their respective era.

This episode discusses processes occurring at the cellular level during dry mummification, as well as the formation of bog bodies. The VWA by Tatar Ezgi, "The Cat on the Hot Tin Roof" (dry mummification of a cat), is briefly presented, and the terms "pH value" and "mole" are explained.

The text addresses the topic of mummies, their cultural significance, and various methods of mummification, both natural and artificial. It also presents historical and well-known examples of mummies from around the world, including personal experiences with the creation of chicken mummies in the classroom.

This text explains how substances cross cell membranes via active, passive, and vesicular transport. It also covers the physical principles of diffusion, osmosis, and homeostasis, including practical examples like reverse osmosis for desalination.

The episode explains the structure and function of cell membranes, focusing on the fluid mosaic model and the role of phospholipids and membrane proteins. It also describes passive transport mechanisms such as diffusion and osmosis across the semipermeable membrane.

The cell performs a wide range of functions that must all be coordinated with one another. In this episode, the relationships between these functions and the associated organelles as well as other cellular structures will be explained.

In this episode, the biological principle of compartmentalisation is explained, and the importance of coordinated and functioning processes is highlighted. You will gain an overview of what cells are capable of and what they need to accomplish to ensure the proper functioning of the entire organism.

Una classe scolastica (9° anno) ha pianificato e analizzato un esperimento in ambiente abissale, realizzato dal team di Monika Bright, con l’obiettivo di determinare quali fonti alimentari vengano preferite dagli animali delle profondità marine. L’esperimento ha evidenziato una chiara preferenza per alimenti di origine animale e per cibi morbidi ricchi di carboidrati, soprattutto su substrati basaltici poveri di nutrienti. Debolezze metodologiche hanno portato a importanti spunti di riflessione e a nuove domande di ricerca, in particolare sul ruolo della consistenza del cibo, sul comportamento competitivo e sulla scelta del sito.

A school class (Year 9) designed and analysed a deep-sea experiment carried out by Monika Bright’s team to investigate which food sources deep-sea animals prefer – the results showed a clear preference for animal-based and soft carbohydrate-rich food on nutrient-poor basalt. Methodological shortcomings led to important insights and new research questions, such as the impact of food consistency, competitive behaviour, and site selection.

Cet épisode décrit le matériel et les méthodes du projet pédagogique conçu par une classe de 9ᵉ année, réalisé par Monika Bright et son équipe en juillet 2023 à deux sites situés sur la dorsale médio-océanique dans le Pacifique Est, et documenté par des retransmissions en direct. Partant des contextes respectifs, les trois hypothèses formulées par les élèves y sont présentées.

This episode describes the materials and methods of the classroom project planned by a Year 9 group, which was carried out by Monika Bright and her team in July 2023 at two locations along the mid-ocean ridge in the Eastern Pacific and recorded via livestreams. Based on their respective backgrounds, the three hypotheses formulated by the pupils are presented.