The Domains of Life
How the evolutionary tree branches over time forms the basis for biological classification. As our understanding of evolutionary history has improved, classification has gone from a two kingdom system (plants and animals), to five kingdoms (plant, animal, fungi, protist, and monera--the kingdom of prokaryotic cells), the classification found in many biology textbooks. Molecular techniques have now clarified the early branching of life, resulting in a useful new overview that splits life into three domains: Archaea (bacteria-like in appearance, but with different biochemistry), Bacteria, and Eucarya, the domain of organisms having cells with nuclei and membrane-bound organelles. This program introduces the three domains and focuses on the main events in the evolution of eukaryotic cells.
- Title ID 135-BDL
- Science, Biology
- 1 Program
- 8 Supplemental Files
- 10th Grade through Post Secondary
- Released in 2006 by BioMEDIA Associates
Included Programs
Supplemental Files
Included Programs
Life's Three Great BranchesRunning time is 28 minutes
Chapter List
- Chapter 1: Self-Replicating Molecules Evolve
- Early Cells: A cell containing DNA becomes the ancestor for the three existing lines of life.
- Chapter 2: Domain Bacteria
- Domain Bacteria: Anatomy of the bacterial cell and the roles bacteria play in the biosphere.
- Chapter 3: Domain Eucarya
- Domain Eucarya: Complex nucleated cells get their start by engulfing their neighbors.
- Chapter 4: The Evolution of Mitochondria
- The Evolution of Mitochondria: Symbiotic bacteria evolve into the eukaryotic cell's energy transformers.
- Chapter 5: The Eukaryotic Cell Evolves
- The Eukaryotic Cell Evolves: Further developments in cell evolution.
- Chapter 6: Motor Proteins Get Cells Moving
- Motor Proteins Get Cells Moving: Microtubules and other proteins move materials around cells and provide cell locomotion.
- Chapter 7: The Evolution of Plastids
- The Evolution of Plastids: Light harvesting bacteria, living symbiotically with eukaryotic cells, evolve into chloroplasts.
- Chapter 8: The Invention of Sex
- The Invention of Sex: Mixing of genetic material between individuals creates variety and speeds up evolution.
- Chapter 9: Eucarya Becomes Multicellular
- Eucarya Becomes Multicellular: Simple colonies bridge the gap between single cells and multicellular organisms.
Supplemental Files
- MARC Records for BDL
- MARC records for the series The Domains of Life
- Domains of Life - Educators Guide Part 1
- Domains of Life - Educators Guide Part 2
- Domains of Life - Activities
- Domains of Life - Quizes
- Three Domains of Life - Table of Comparison
- Very Brief Timeline of Life on Earth
- Glossary