DURATION: 2 hrs. 10 mins.
LEVEL: Late Secondary/Tertiary/Specialist

For convenience, biologists divide living organisms into five "Kingdoms": the Monerans (bacteria and blue-green algae), Protists, Fungi, Plants and Animals. The Kingdom Protista includes a vast array of tiny eukaryotic cells which lead complex and extraordinary lives far from the eyes of most humans; a dedication to microscopy is vital to see them in all their splendor. This DVD is a unique resource introducing the viewer to a considerable range of living seaweeds, phytoplankton, amoebae, slime moulds, ciliated protozoa and some dangerous pathogens. The spectacular video sequences, often in time-lapse, show life's drama being played out by these cells on their microscopic stage.

Interwoven into the 33 chapters are vital topics such as cell division; morphogenesis and differentiation ; predatory tactics ; endosymbiosis and its role in the evolution of algal groups ; sex ; differentiation ; life cycles ; Wound response and the origin of multicellular organisms and higher land plants .

Teachers will find this DVD a convenient, thought-provoking and spectacular addition to their teaching aids, one guaranteed to stimulate interest and classroom discussion.