Paul Andersen compares and contrasts mitosis and meiosis. He shows how you can count cells in various phases of mitosis to construct a cell cycle pie chart. He also explains how you can use the fungus Sordaria to calculate map units using the frequency of cross over.
Paul Andersen starts with a brief description of enzymes and substrates. He then explains how you can measure the rate of an enzyme mediated reaction. Catalase from yeast is used to break hydrogen peroxide down into water and oxygen. He also explains how temperature and pH could affect the rate of a reaction.
Paul Andersen starts with a brief description of diffusion and osmosis. He then describes the diffusion demonstration and how molecules move over time. He then explains the concepts behind the osmosis lab and how potatoes are affected by increasing sucrose molarity.
Paul Andersen gives you a brief introduction to the cell membrane. He starts by describing amphipathic nature of a phospholipid and how it assembles into a membrane. He gives an overview of the fluid mosaic model inside cells. He also discusses the movement of material across a membrane and the role of proteins in movement and function.
Paul Andersen takes you on a tour of the cell. He starts by explaining the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. He also explains why cells are small but not infinitely small. He also explains how the organelles work together in a similar fashion
Paul Andersen describes the macromolecules that make up living organisms. He starts with a brief description of organic chemistry and the importance of functional groups. He also covers both dehydration and hydrolysis in polymerization. He finally covers the four major macromolecules: nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates.
Paul Andersen introduces the topic of Biology. He covers each of the four main ideas that were developed by the College Board. These ideas revolve around the concepts of evolution, free energy, information and systems.
Paul Andersen explains how biology is ordered in the hierarchy of life. He first of all describes how emergent properties appear as you move to more inclusive systems. The then describes life at the following levels; atom, molecule, macromolecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organisms, population, community, ecosystem, biome and finally biosphere.
Paul Andersen reviews the major concepts within the fifth unit of the new AP Biology framework. He starts with a description of both DNA and DNA. He explains how DNA is copied during the S phase of mitosis. He explains how transcription produces a strand of mRNA that is translated at the ribosome into a polypeptide. He compares and contrasts mitosis and meiosis and differentiates between haploid and diploid cells. He finally discusses Mendelian and chromosomal genetics. He finishes the podcast with a discussing of operons and transcription factors.
Paul Andersen reviews the major concepts within the fourth unit of the new AP Biology framework. He begins by differentiating between negative and positive feedback loops. He explains how a stable internal environment is maintained through behavior and physiology. He details thermoregulation, osmoregulation and blood glucose regulation. He also describes how natural selection has shaped behavior.
Paul Andersen reviews the major concepts within the second unit of the new AP Biology framework. He starts by describing how life is organized into three domains. He explains how the history of life on the planet is characterized by mass extinctions followed by adaptive radiation. He explains how geographic, behavioral, temporal and mechanical isolation can create new species. He also explains how microevolution within a population can explain. He ends the podcast by describing abiogenesis and mentioning the major milestones in the evolution of life on the planet.
Paul Andersen reviews the major within the first unit on natural selection. He starts by defining evolution and explaining how evolution can occur in a population. He reviews the population genetics and camouflage lab. He reviews genetic drift and finishes with a brief discussion of characteristics that are conserved in living organisms.
Paul Andersen explains the importance of biodiversity. He starts by describing how biodiversity can be species, genetic or ecosystem diversity. He explains the importance of keystone species in an environment and gives two examples; the jaguar and the sea otter. He finishes with a quote from the father of biodiversity, E.O. Wilson.
Paul Andersen explains the importance of genetic variation within a population. He begins with a discussion of the devil facial tumor that is a form of cancer transferred between Tasmanian devils. He then explains how a decrease in genetic variability nearly led to the extinction of the black-footed ferret. He finally discussed the importance of genetic variability in disease resistance. He explains how mutations in humans allow some of them to be resistant to HIV and how the allele frequency can be calculated in a population using the Hardy-Weinberg equation.
Paul Andersen explains how genotypes can be expressed or not based on changes in the environment. He starts with a brief description of the Himalayan rabbit and how melanin production can be disrupted by high temperature. He explains how this could be advantageous in both the arctic fox and hare. He explains how flowers can vary temperature based on the pH of the soil. He finally describes gene expression in Lac+ bacteria.
Paul Andersen explains how variation is created within a cell. He starts by showing how molecular variation can increase fitness at the local level. He explains how an additional chlorophyll molecule allows plants to absorb more light from the sun. He also explains how cells can vary the composition of phospholipids in their cell membrane. He explains the significance of heterozygote advantage and how gene duplication can create novel genes. The antifreeze protein evolved from a simple digestive protein.
Paul Andersen explains how ecosystems change over time. He starts by explaining how global climate change will impacts ecosystems around the planet. He then discusses how continental drift created climatic changes that impacted mammal species. He finishes with a brief discussion of how local meteorological changes can impact local ecosystems.
Paul Andersen explains how populations interact in an ecosystem. The symbiosis of several populations is based on effects that may be neutral, positive, or negative. Interactions like mutualism, commensalism and parasitism are included. Human impacts to ecosystems are also considered using the invasive species kudzu.
Paul Andersen emphasizes the importance of cooperation in living systems. He starts with a brief description of game theory and why countries at peace do better over the long term. He then explains how microscopic cells cooperate in the rumen of a cow, how organelles cooperate in a cell, and how organs cooperate in the digestive system.
Paul Andersen explains how enzymes are used to break down substrates. The correct shape of the active site allows a key/lock fit between the enzyme and the substrate. The enzyme catalase is used to break down hydrogen peroxide. The importance of cofactors and coenzymes is emphasized. Competitive and allosteric inhibition is also included.
