Videotaped Biology Presentations

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John Dabiri: Jellyfish-Inspired Engineering
Caltech assistant professor of aeronautics and bioengineering John Dabiri presented a Watson Lecture called "Jellyfish-Inspired Engineering." Recently named one of Popular Science magazine's "Brilliant 10," Dabiri described how his biology-inspired approach to engineering has placed jellyfish at the center of efforts to build next-generation underwater vehicles, to design more versatile onshore wind power, and even to diagnose heart failure. Recorded: April 22, 2009
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 40 minutes

Christopher Somerville: Development of Cellulosic Biofuels
Christopher Somerville, one of the world's leading authorities on converting plant cellulose to energy, explained the technical issues involved with the U.S. Secretary of Energy's call to replace 30 percent of the liquid fuels used in the U.S. with cellulosic biofuels by 2030. Somerville is a professor of plant and microbial biology at UC Berkeley and the director of the Energy Biosciences Institute, the world's first research institution solely dedicated to the new field of energy bioscience. Recorded: February 11, 2009
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 87 minutes

Raymond Deshaies: Protein Recycling: Its Role in Human Biology and Disease
Raymond Deshaies, professor of biology at Caltech and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, presented a Watson Lecture in which he explained how drugs that target protein recycling can extend lifespan in some cancer patients and may have applications in treating diseases of the immune system. Protein recycling is used to eliminate damaged proteins as well as those that have carried out their chemical task and are no longer needed. Recorded: December 3, 2008
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 61 minutes

Ralph Adolphs: The Neuroscience of Social Behavior: From Looking at Faces to Understanding Autism
Ralph Adolphs, Caltech's Bren Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and professor of biology, discussed how his lab has used brain imaging, direct recordings from the brain in surgical patients, and studies of clinical populations to understand face processing. He explained that specific regions of the brain are required to recognize emotions, that aspects of face perception are fast and automatic, and that people with autism look at faces in unusual ways. Recorded: October 15, 2008
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 61 minutes

Frances Arnold: Synthetic Biology and the Race for New Biofuels
In an NRG lecture on November 2, Frances Arnold, Caltech's Dickinson Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry, discussed how new technology and new capabilities developed over the last few years have allowed scientists to consider how to design a microorganism to solve the fuel problem. Recorded: November 2, 2007
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 55 minutes

Doug Rees: Photosynthesis and Bioenergetics
Intended to educate a broad cross-section of the campus community, NRG 0.1 Seminars feature discussions by leading scientists on the challenges of energy research and technology, and how scientists from a variety of fields can use their technical expertise to address those challenges. For the second installment in the series, Doug Rees, Caltech's Dickinson Professor of Chemistry, presented a talk called "Photosynthesis and Bioenergetics." Recorded: October 12, 2007
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 62 minutes

A Conversation with James Watson
Fifty years ago, James Watson began the work that would eventually lead to his discovery of the structure of the DNA molecule and earn him a Nobel Prize. On September 25, 2007, Caltech's Seymour Benzer, the James B. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience, Emeritus, joined Watson for a discussion about the significance of this discovery, and to discuss Watson's new book, Avoid Boring People, in which he shares personal lessons gleaned from a career in science. Recorded: September 25, 2007
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 55 minutes

Erin Schuman: Brain Plasticity during Learning and Memory
Information we learn about our environment is stored at neurons, the connections between brain cells. Between neurons are synapses—points of contact and communication. In a recent Watson Lecture, Erin Schuman, professor of biology and executive officer for neurobiology at Caltech, explained how synapses exhibit plasticity by varying in their size, strength, and number. This plasticity contributes to our ability to learn and remember. Recorded: May 9, 2007
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 57 minutes

Tracy Teal: Stayin' Alive: How Bacteria Survive in Biofilm Communities
Bacteria have ruled the planet for billions of years, yet only in the last few years have scientists learned that these organisms spend much of their lives as surface-associated communities, or biofilms. In an Everhart Lecture on April 11, Tracy Teal, a graduate student in computation and neural systems at Caltech, explained how biofilms are resilient to changes in environmental conditions and resistant to antibiotics and antimicrobial agents, allowing bacteria to survive in diverse environments. Recorded: April 11, 2007
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 39 minutes

Paul Patterson: Can One Make a Mouse Model of Mental Illness, and Why Try?
In a Watson lecture, Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences Paul Patterson described modeling aspects of mental illnesses in mice based on a known risk factor for schizophrenia and autism--namely, that viral infection in pregnant women increases the incidence of these disorders in their offspring. The finding that respiratory infection of the mother can alter fetal brain development was discussed, as well as the implications for prevention and therapy. Recorded: May 17, 2006
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 71 minutes

Dianne K. Newman: Bacterial Biofilms: Far More than a Collection of Germs
In a Watson lecture, Professor of Geobiology Dianne K. Newman gave an overview of basic facts everyone should know about bacteria, with an emphasis on their metabolic diversity. She also discussed the fascinating inner workings of bacterial biofilms--communities of cells attached to surfaces in a wide variety of contexts. Recorded: April 12, 2006
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 56 minutes

D. Allan Drummond: Darwin's Dumpster: How cellular sloppiness governs the rate of evolution
In an Everhart lecture, Caltech graduate student D. Allan Drummond discussed how the cellular machinery that synthesizes proteins from genes is sloppy, how defective proteins cost dearly, and how the speed of a gene's evolution depends on how costly it is to change. At a time when challenges to Darwinian evolution abound, Drummond's attack on this controversial issue provides an eye-opening view of how evolution science really works. Recorded: March 1, 2006
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 47 minutes

3rd Annual Science Writing Symposium
This annual symposium brought together three prominent science writers to address the challenges of communicating technical information to general audiences. Program featured Christof Koch, Caltech's Troendle Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Biology and professor of computation and neural systems; Leonard Mlodinow, coauthor with Stephen Hawking of the forthcoming A Briefer History of Time; and Margaret Wertheim, internationally noted science writer and commentator. Recorded: May 16, 2005
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 88 minutes

Gilles Laurent: The Sense of Smell: A Window into the Brain and Memory
In a Watson lecture, Gilles Laurent, Hanson Professor of Biology and Computation and Neural Systems at Caltech, summarized some of the recent advances in research on the sense of smell, and showed how old brain circuits may help us understand the neuronal nature of memories. Recorded: February 23, 2005
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 70 minutes

Christof Koch: The Quest for Consciousness
In a Watson lecture, Christof Koch, Troendle Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Biology, discussed the tantalizing possibility that we are getting closer to understanding the relationship between the conscious mind and the brain, focusing on the approach that he and Francis Crick have taken to find and characterize the neuronal correlates of consciousness in mice, monkeys, and humans. Recorded: November 10, 2004
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 71 minutes

Michael H. Dickinson: How Flies Fly
In a Watson lecture, Michael Dickinson, Zarem Professor of Bioengineering, discussed how advances in physics, engineering, and biology have increased our understanding of the common fly. Results from studies using wind tunnels, virtual reality simulators, high-speed video, and giant robotic models may lead to the construction of a new class of miniature flying robots. Recorded: October 27, 2004
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 77 minutes

Insights into the Origins of Human Brain Tumors
Houman Hemmati, a graduate student in biology at Caltech, discussed the recent advances in leukemia research that have identified bone marrow-derived stem cells as a source for brain-tumor cancers. Based on this work, scientists have taken a novel approach to identifying the origins of brain tumors. Their findings suggest that targeting tumor-derived stem cells is a promising approach to treating brain tumors. Recorded: February 18, 2004
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 41 minutes

James Heath: Nanosystems Biology
Someday the diagnosis of disease will be done with a tiny collection of cells, rather than with invasive surgery. Caltech professor of chemistry James Heath presents the background, early successes, and the daunting challenges of coordinating the fields of nanotechnology, microfluidics, and systems biology, which may lead to a better understanding of a biological organism. Recorded: January 14, 2004
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 56 minutes

David Baltimore: Viruses, Viruses, Viruses
Dr. David Baltimore, president and professor of biology, Caltech, discussed the following big questions about the most basic, unadorned form of life we know. Why are we seemingly plagued by viruses we never heard much about before? Is it modern travel or better methods of diagnosis? How can we counter these new and awful critters? What are viruses anyway and where do they come from? Recorded: October 15, 2003
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 69 minutes

Michael Dickinson: How Flies Fly: A Systems-level, Integrative Approach
Michael Dickinson, Esther M. and Abe M. Zarem Professor of Bioengineering , Caltech, presented this lecture as part of the 9th Annual Industry Day, sponsored by the NSF Center for Neuromorphic Systems Engineering at Caltech. Recorded: May 15, 2003
[56k modem] [broadband] Running time: 18 minutes

Richard Andersen: Neural Prosthetics
Richard Andersen, James G. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience, Caltech, presented this lecture as part of the 9th Annual Industry Day, sponsored by the NSF Center for Neuromorphic Systems Engineering at Caltech. Recorded: May 15, 2003
[56k modem] [broadband] Running time: 13 minutes

Mark Tilden: The Relevance of "Living Features" in Commercial Products
Mark Tilden, Head Research & Development WowWee, Hasbro Toys, presented this lecture as part of the 9th Annual Industry Day, sponsored by the NSF Center for Neuromorphic Systems Engineering at Caltech. Recorded: May 15, 2003
[56k modem] [broadband] Running time: 65 minutes

A Conversation with James Watson
Caltech's President David Baltimore joined Dr. James Watson, for a discussion on the significance of Watson's work and its impact on our lives today. Watson discovered the structure of the DNA molecule, work that earned him a Nobel Prize in 1962. Recorded: May 5, 2003
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 67 minutes

Sarah Heilshorn: Protein Engineering: A Novel Approach to Creating New Biomaterials
Sarah Heilshorn is a graduate student in chemistry and chemical engineering at Caltech. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in industrialized nations. Currently, the most commonly used materials for synthetic, arterial bypasses do not support cell growth, and often fail within three years of being implanted. In response, protein engineering is being used to design an optimum replacement biomaterial. Recorded: April 3, 2003
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 47 minutes

Christof Koch: How the Mind Arises from the Brain
Emmy award-winning television journalist Charlie Rose served as moderator for "A Celebration of Caltech Science" on October 26, 2002, which featured Caltech faculty members. Leading the session on "How the Mind Arises from the Brain" was Dr. Christof Koch, the Troendle Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Biology and professor of computation and neural systems. Panelists included Dr. Steve Quartz, associate professor of philosophy; Dr. Jean Ensminger, professor of anthropology; Colin Camerer, Axline Professor of Business Economics; and Dr. David Anderson, professor of biology. Recorded: October 26, 2002
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 86 minutes

Henry Lester: The Response to Nicotine
Dr. Henry Lester, the Bren Professor of Biology at Caltech, presented this talk as part of the Watson Lecture Series. If, as many suspect, smokers are self-medicating with this ancient drug, what does nicotine teach us about our brain? Now we are learning, in atomic detail, how nicotine binds to its receptor proteins; how this activates ion channels; and how this might lead to the activation of genes. Lester describes how scientists exploit these advances to seek medications with some of nicotine's benefits and none of its addictive hazards. Recorded: October 23, 2002
[56k modem] [broadband] [cable/DSL] Running time: 57 minutes

BioDefense Forum: Scenarios, Science, and Society
The forum presented a realistic picture of society's vulnerabilities to bioterrorism, a sense of the science underlying the associated problems and solutions, and some steps that local, state, and federal agencies are, or should be, taking. Speakers included Caltech provost Dr. Steven Koonin, Dr. Alan Zelicoff from Sandia National Lab, and L.A. county?s chief public health officer Dr. Jonathan Fielding. Recorded: November 7, 2001
[56k modem] [broadband] Running time: 100 minutes

Richard A. Anderson and Joel W. Burdick: Developing a Neural Prosthesis for Reaching
Dr. Richard A. Andersen, James G. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience at Caltech, and Dr. Joel W. Burdick, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Caltech, presented this lecture as part of the 0.1 Seminar series. They describe their recent work to design a neural prosthesis for paralyzed patients, using decoded, intended-movement signals recorded from the posterior parietal cortex. Recorded: March 9, 2001
[56k modem] [broadband] Running time: 44 minutes

Paul Matsudaira: Molecular Springs, Powerful Engines That Drive Cellular Movements
Dr. Paul Matsudaira, of the Whitehead Institute and Dept. of Biology, Division of Bioengineering, MIT, presented this lecture as part of the 0.1 seminar series. He discusses how power sources for biological motion differ. Muscle contraction and flagellar beating convert energy from ATP into movement, while cellular engines derive their energy from entropy and are independent of ATP hydrolysis. Recorded: March 2, 2001
[56k modem] [broadband] Running time: 53 minutes

Yu-Chong Tai: Integrated Microfluidics for Lab-on-a-Chip
Dr. Yu-Chong Tai, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at Caltech, presented this lecture as part of the 0.1 Seminar series. The idea of lab-on-a-chip is to integrate all the necessary devices on a single small chip to perform complicated biological and chemical processes that are usually done with larger volumes in well-equipped labs. Tai illustrates his talk with applications of these devices and predictions on the future of integrated microfluidics. Recorded: February 16, 2001
[56k modem] [broadband] Running time: 41 minutes

William Caton: Clinical Problems Related to the Spine: New Ideas and Futuristic Concepts of Spinal Instrumentation
William L. Caton from the Huntington Hospital presented this lecture as part of the 0.1 Seminar series. He discusses current techniques for solving problems of instability and treatment of pain, as well as applications of computer modeling, miniaturization of equipment, remote sensors, new biological techniques, and other ideas that will allow new and definitive approaches to treatment. Recorded: February 9, 2001
[56k modem] [broadband] Running time: 60 minutes

Darrell Jan: NASA Life Sciences Research In Bioengineering
Dr. Darrell Jan, AEMC Project Manager, Biomedical and Environmental Technologies at JPL, presented this lecture as part of the 0.1 Seminar series. He gives an overview of the current efforts to leverage advances in microelectronics and biotechnology toward future NASA missions, which will require technologies that enable humans to live and function effectively in space for much longer periods and with reductions in size, mass, and power. Recorded: February 2, 2001
[56k modem] [broadband] Running time: 44 minutes

Diffusion-Mediated Regulation In Endocrine Cell Networks
Donald S. Cohen, Charles Lee Powell Professor of Applied Mathematics, Emeritus, Caltech; Danny Petrasek, Senior Research Fellow, Applied and Computational Mathematics, Caltech; and William Goodman, Professor of Medicine, UCLA, presented this lecture as part of the 0.1 Seminar series. They discuss a computational model that demonstrates diffusion-mediated regulation and that shows qualitative agreement with published experimental results. Such a signaling mechanism may regulate other networks with similar biochemical and geometric properties. Recorded: January 26, 2001
[56k modem] [broadband] Running time: 37 minutes

Julia A. Kornfield and David A. Tirrell: Unsolved Problems In Biomedical Materials Engineering
Dr. Julia A. Kornfield, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Caltech, and Dr. David A. Tirrell, Ross McCollum-William H. Corcoran Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Caltech, presented this lecture as part of the 0.1 Seminar series. They discuss some of the complications and challenges that arise in the clinical use of medical devices that are surgically implanted each year, and present some current approaches to the amelioration of the resulting problems. Recorded: January 12, 2001
[56k modem] [broadband] Running time: 50 minutes