BBC R4 - Five biology related documentaries

BBC R4 - Cilia
Broadcast November 16, 2005

BBC Blurb
In 1898 KW Zimmermann reported in a German microscopy journal
seeing fine hair-like structures on the surface of the cells
which form the tubes in kidneys. These are the cilia that
protrude from the surface of many types of cell.

Most cilia beat in a waving chorus, but on many cells - one in
particular (the primary cilium) - stays firm, poking out into its
surroundings without moving. For almost a century its purpose
was unknown, and it was thought that it was probably a vestige of
cell evolution - no longer  of any consequence to human function.

But the last ten years of research has changed that. In this week's
Frontiers, Peter Evans looks at these microscopic attachments that
have  suddenly taken centre stage.

The cilia seem to perform a sensory role for individual cells, tasting
the wind and moving  accordingly. Defects in cilia therefore cause the
cells to do strange things. And cilia malfunction is being linked to
some human diseases from Polycystic Kidney Disease to situs inversus.

It seems a revolution in Medicine might be taking place. In the same way
doctors now talk of 'metabolic diseases' or 'genetic diseases', they may
soon start talking about 'cilia diseases'.
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BBC R4 - Stem Cells
Broadcast June 29, 2009

BBC Blurb
Sue Broom catches up on progress in stem cell research. She talks
to leading scientists in the field and finds out when treatments and
cures from our own bodies could become a realistic prospect.

Stem cells have long held the promise to cure diseases such as heart
disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, sickle cell anaemia and type 1
diabetes, as well as repair damaged tissue from injury such as spinal
cord damage. But are they ready to be tried in humans?
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BBC R4 - Longevity
Broadcast May 9, 2007

BBC Blurb
Peter Evans discusses new research into the study of ageing and longevity
which could have profound implications for human life and health.

Researchers have shown that simple genes control ageing in organisms like
fruit flies and nematode worms. They can be switched on or off to increase
their lifespan by as much as six times. Similar genes are also found in humans.

Ageing is the biggest risk factor for many major diseases: cancer, heart
disease, Alzheimer’s and neurodegeneration. Could it be that instead of being
separate diseases, they are all manifestations of a single ageing process
controlled by our genes?

Peter Evans hears from the researchers who are unlocking the genetic routes
to ageing to develop drugs which can mimic their life extending properties or
block their disease causing affects.

These drugs they hope in the future will prevent some of the biggest killers
of the Western World and could even extend human lifespan by as much as ten
or twenty years.
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BBC R4 - The New Antibiotics
Wednesday 10 May 2006

BBC Blurb
In 1945 the father of antibiotics Alexander Fleming predicted
that microbes could become 'educated' to resist penicillin,
eventually making antibiotics useless against disease.

Now, with growing fears about the spread of drug-resistant
infectious diseases such as MRSA, Fleming is being proved right.

In this episode of Frontiers, Peter Evans hears from scientists
looking for new ways to defeat the super-bugs. The most recent
figures suggest that in one year 5000 people died from hospital
infections such as MRSA in one year.

In the past, science has fought off this bacterial counter-attack
by inventing new anti-microbial compounds and ensuring they are
prescribed judiciously. But today, we live in an era when virtually
no new antibiotics are in development, and even the strongest ones
we have aren't 100% effective against these microbes.

The most striking feature of many bacteria is the ability of individual
bacterium to communicate with one another and reach a "decision".
This is known as quorum sensing.

Now scientists are trying to unravel the secrets of quorum sensing in
the hope that they can learn how to block the communication between
bacteria that drives its ability to cause disease.

However, a new strain of MRSA which first surfaced in the United States
is making its way to our shores and not only is it more potent and more
resistant to existing antibiotics, it's acquired not in hospitals but
within the community. More worryingly, otherwise healthy young athlete
are as susceptible to infection as the sick and vulnerable.

Doctors at the University of California have discovered that this bacteria,
known as USA 300, has evolved over time, importing genes from elsewhere
and becoming much more virulent. By sequencing the genes, scientists hope
to develop an anti-bacterial drug to fight it.

However, treatments based on gene sequencing and quorum sensing are some
way in the future. While campaigns to make hospitals cleaner are showing
some results, some doctors feel that a more intensive effort is needed now
to develop powerful new drugs to beat MRSA and its successors.
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BBC R4 - Bioprecipitation
Broadcast June 15, 2009

BBC Blurb
Richard Hollingham investigates if bacteria in the atmosphere can influence
the weather and meets some of the scientists who are working in what has been
called 'bioprecipitation'.

He talks to David Sands from Montana University, who coined the term, and
visits labs in Avignon and London where researchers are trying to understand
more about the impact of bacterial particles on our weather. If the complexities
of bioprecipitation can be unravelled, it might be possible to turn the process
to our advantage and use these extraordinary bacteria to encourage rainfall
in drought-affected regions of the world.