Life of a Cell video and other biology resources...

Harvard has a set of excellent online resources for detailed technical information concerning countless topics in science. Last year I came across the multimedia site for the biology department through a video called Inner Life this video shows in visual CGI glory the beautiful dance of biomolecules inside the cell. I have a very visual memory and the processes that I read about and could only imagine when I was in HS are put to beautiful motion in this video. Check out the different versions on the page with and without narration. The myocin molecule walking animation is an amazing demonstrating of a cyclic biomechanical operation that occurs simply because of a periodic affinity and bond energy change between the operative molecules...so beautiful. My favorite part was the mRna to protein synthesis segment of the animation, just like I always imagined it! The page also has animations of other cellular functions as well as demonstrations of conservation of energy principles. (which ultimately are the root source of ALL time evolved change weather it be in living or non living things)

Another resource I came across in 2005 is a general primer on DNA, mRNA transcription, and protein synthesis. Animations make the concepts described easy to comprehend.

http://www.ncc.gmu.edu/dna/index.htm

Enjoy!

take a look and enjoy!

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