Tom's SciCast

What is astrobiology? Why study astrobiology? I also discuss the age and scale of the universe, introduce some important laws of the universe, why Earth could be a template for understanding life in the universe, and discuss my own biases in astrobiology.

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I explain how the Modern Synthesis led to our current understanding of evolution. I also discuss the current issues in evolution including epigenetics, horizontal gene transfer, and abiogenesis and the need for a unified theory of life. 

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A continuation on the mechanisms of evolution with a focus on sexual selection. I also define, sexual reproduction, two sexes, sexual selection, and provide examples of sexual selection. 

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I focus on the mechanisms of random evolution and how mutations and recombination not only cause evolution but are important sources of variation. 

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In this podcast, I explain the different types of natural selection including directional selection, stabilizing selection, disruptive selection, balancing selection, and a brief introduction to sexual selection. 

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I explain why defining species is difficult and describe four species concepts including morphological, biological, polyphasic, and phylogenetic species concept. 

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This is Chapter 7 of my Bio for Health Sciences text book. I cover cellular respiration, including why it's important, the four stages of respiration, and finally a quick ending with fermentation. 

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This is Chapter 6 of my bio for health sciences text book. In this chapter, I cover a variety of related topics including: The structure and function of cell membranes, cellular transport (osmosis, diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport), Energy, Redox reactions, and enzymes. 

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This is Chapter 5 of my Bio for Health Sciences text book. It covers the similarities of all cells due to common ancestry, introduces prokaryotic diversity, eukaryotic diversity, the endomembrane system, and the cytoskeleton.  

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This podcast is Chapter 4 of my book Biology for Health Sciences. Life is based on chemistry and it helps to know a little to help us in our everyday lives, like why some fats are good while others are bad or why glucose and fructose are both real sugar. In this chapter, I cover metabolism, the four macromolecules (carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids) and other vitamins and organic molecules

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