I’m going to start this episode with a little story. When I decided I was going to be crazy and start this podcast, I was trying to think of a name for it, and I came up with the name Cellfie Life. I was running it by my best friend who is a social media manager.  She does social media for a living, and she wasn’t exactly a fan of the name because she thought it sounded like a prison podcast, which is not at all what I was going for, but I was excited and proceeded to tell her all about Robert Hooke….
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Unveiling the Microscopic World: Bacteria, Archaea, Fungi, and More!

This podcast delves into the fascinating realm of microscopic life. We’ll begin by cracking the code on the key difference between prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea) and eukaryotes (organisms with complex cells). We’ll explore how scientists classify these organisms using a ranking system, journeying from domain all the way down to species.

Get ready to meet the extremophiles known as archaea, who thrive in unbelievably harsh environments. We’ll also encounter the diverse world of bacteria, some beneficial and some pathogenic. Buckle up as we explore how bacteria are classified and how they reproduce.

The microscopic tour continues with a look at fungi, whose cell walls are made of a unique material called chitin. We’ll discover how fungi can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Finally, we’ll encounter the mysterious prions, misfolded proteins that can wreak havoc on cellular functions.

This podcast promises a captivating journey into the microscopic world, packed with fun facts and insights!

This episode is the second part of a series on embryogenesis, which is the formation and development of an embryo in the first eight weeks.

The episode picks up right after implantation. It covers the formation of the three germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. These germ layers give rise to different tissues in the body.

Neurulation is the process where the neural tube forms. The neural tube will later form the brain and spinal cord.

The episode also talks about teratogens, which are things that can interfere with development and cause defects. Some examples of teratogens include alcohol, environmental chemicals, and viruses.

Stem cells are also discussed. Stem cells are cells that can differentiate into many different types of cells. The episode talks about the different types of stem cells and how they differentiate.

The last topic covered in the episode is fetal circulation. Fetal circulation is different from adult circulation because the fetus is not using its lungs to take in oxygen. The fetus gets its oxygen from the mother through the placenta.

I have the script notes from all the episodes, so if you want to print out and use them to aid in your studying, the transcripts are available under the episodes. Download the full transcript!