Cyborgs, stem cells, glowing mice, and hilarious music videos are great reasons to be excited about biology. Here are some of our favorite clips from the life sciences.

10. Immune Cell Chasing a Bacterium

It may look like the predecessor to Pac Man, but this vintage clip shows a neutrophil wending its way through a crowd of red blood cells to destroy its bacterial nemesis.

9. How High Speed Gene Sequencing Works

Within the next few years, Helicos BioSciences may be able to read an entire human genome for under one thousand dollars. This video explains the science behind their amazing technology.

8. Shrimp Jogging on a Treadmill

While comparing the stamina of sick shrimp to their healthy brethren, David Scholnick filmed this video of a cute little crustacean running on a treadmill. He had no idea that it would be come an internet sensation.

7. El Corazón

An unusual music video about the heart, in Spanish, with English subtitles.

6. The PCR Song

Biochemists often use the polymerase chain reaction to copy DNA molecules. This hilarious music video, tells the history of that technology and makes some jokes about its many uses, including paternity testing.

5. Glowing Mice Shed Some Light on Stem Cells

This year, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to three scientists who studied a fluorescent protein from jellyfish. It has become a tremendously important tool for scientific research, because biologists can use it to understand what is going on inside of cells. An experiment with glowing mice led to a major discovery about stem cells.

4. DNA Origami

Using a mix of chemistry, biology, and computer tricks, Paul Rothemund can design DNA molecules that fold up into complicated two-dimensional shapes. In this TED talk, he explains some of the logic behind his work, and how living things operate.

3. Cyborg Monkey Controls Robot Arm

By implanting an array of electrodes directly into the motor area of a monkey’s brain, researchers can read some of its thoughts. Their interface is so good that the animal can take control of a robot arm and use it to feed itself. Someday, these brain-computer interfaces could be used to help paralyzed people live normal lives.

2. Evolution and Human Ancestry

Genetic tests are becoming an important part of medicine, but can also tell us about our ancestry. This charming cartoon, made by 23andMe, offers a fantastic overview of how humans evolved.

1. Building Body Parts from Scratch



Last week, regenerative medicine researchers announced that they have grown a new windpipe for a woman who was crippled by tuberculosis. Years ago, other scientists were able to make bladders, from scratch, and implant them in children with malformed urinary tracts. This video shows some amazing footage from two tissue engineering labs.

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