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Listed under:  Science  >  Life  >  Animal structure and function  >  Body systems  >  Immune system
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Why do people get itchy?

Ever wondered what's happening when you get an itch? Watch as Dr Karl Kruszelnicki explains. What are the nerves under your skin reacting to, when they get triggered into action? What is the itch sensation telling your body?

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Animal survivor

This resource provides a scaffold for students to analyse the features of a Queensland animal and relate them to its survival success. Students then conduct the animal design challenge: Engineering new features for their animal to increase its chance of survival and future success. Students also make predictions about how ...

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Awake the mind with caffeine chemistry

Caffeine is the world's most popular drug, but what is it and how does our body respond to its presence? Watch this clip to see the chemical structure of caffeine and the three compounds it metabolises into. Find out which receptor in the brain caffeine binds to, and the overall impacts it has on brain function and activity.

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BTN: Colour blindness - seeing the world differently

The ability to see colours is an important human trait, but did you know some people's colour vision is impaired. View this clip to discover what it means to be colourblind and how it happens. Find out also about the extraordinary colour vision of the dunnart, and why it is important for this nocturnal marsupial.

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Allergies: A big overreaction

An allergic reaction occurs when the human immune system makes a mistake and responds to harmless things such as pollen. Watch this clip to learn about the role that antibodies, immune cells, receptors and chemicals such as histamine play in triggering an allergic reaction. See an animated diagram showing the immune system's ...

Online

Collisions and biomechanics lesson

This lesson plan investigates ways in which automobile manufacturers seek to reduce injuries that occur in car accidents. Students note the effects of car accidents on human bodies, the factors that influence the type and severity of injuries, and the safety ratings of vehicles in which they travel regularly. The resource ...

Online

Vitamania: vitamin profiles

Most people know that vitamins are an essential daily requirement for a healthy life, but few people really know how or why. Vitamins need to be examined individually to understand and appreciate their differences and specific importance to our bodily functions. This lesson plan with supporting video clips, introduces students ...

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Diabetes type 2 cured by surgery ABC Radio national

Download the audio or view the transcript of this ABC radio program. It is an excellent example of how approaching a problem from a different perspective and with an open mind may result in an amazing solution. Richard Stubbs, and New Zealand scientist, claims type 2 diabetes is a disease of the gut. If his hypothesis is ...

Interactive

Defence Against Disease

Students use this resource consisting of ten slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand how microbes can enter the body and how the body tries to prevent this from happening. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

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Artificial Immunity

This resource consists of 2 sets of automated illustrated slides with voice over presenting detailed information and explanations of the role of vaccines in offering artificial immunity against disease.

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Mucous Membrane

Students use this resource consisting of eight slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand how the mucous membrane lining the respiratory system helps to prevent infection. Three of the eight slides deal with the impact of smoking. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

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Stems Cells in the Brain

This seven and a half minute video segment from Catalyst outlines how the discovery of stem cells in the brain marks a potential breakthrough in understanding the process of ageing in the brain. If brain stem cells can be regenerated through exercise or mental activity, can ageing be delayed?

Interactive

Effects of Smoking on the Lungs

Students use this resource consisting of six slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand how smoking cigarettes can damage the breathing system. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

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Choleric waters still run deep with disease

With 884 million people globally not having access to clean drinking water, it comes as no surprise that cholera keeps on killing. Dr Karl explains arguably the most important medical discovery of the 20th century. An excellent resource for the understanding of why cleanliness of water is fundamental to the control of infectious ...

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Cholera's prevention preferable to its cure

This ABC article by Dr Karl describes in detail aspects of how water balance occurs with some interesting examples of when things go wrong. He then outlines the disease, cholera and how it is associated with bacteria carried by water and the disruption to our water balance. Dr Karl looks at the causes and effects of cholera ...

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Defence Mechanisms of the Body

This resource consists of 3 sets of automated illustrated slides with voice over presenting detailed information about the bodies defence against pathogens and examples of diseases and their pathogens.

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CMT disease

This seven and a half minute video segment from Catalyst describes CMT (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease) is Australia's most common genetic neurological disorder. Vitamin C, particularly when taken at a young age appears to reverse this effect. A good example of the scientific method.

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Exploring the human body

This resource for basic physiology and anatomy has a comprehensive outline of all the systems of the body and sensory organs, with animated graphics and activities to help explain them, plus links to visual and interactive resources online.

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Stem Cells Repair

This 11 minute video segment from Catalyst is a case study of research in the use of stem cells. It demonstrates the structure of the knee joint and the role of bones and cartilage. Stem cells from bone marrow are collected and used in attempt to prevent the onset of arthritis. This program distinguishes embryonic from ...

Interactive

Water and Mineral Salt Uptake

Students use this resource consisting of three slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand that root hair cells absorb water and mineral salts from the soil, and understand how they are adapted for this function. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.