Patterns of Life; 1; What is Life?
- Series
- Patterns of Life
- Episode Number
- 1
- Episode
- What is Life?
- Producing Organization
- University of Southern California
- Contributing Organization
- Library of Congress (Washington, District of Columbia)
- AAPB ID
- cpb-aacip/512-q23qv3d358
- NOLA Code
- PAOL
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- Description
- Episode Description
- Dr. Saltman begins the series by asking what is perhaps the most fundamental question in a study of biochemistry: what makes something alive and something else dead? This is a question which has puzzled and invited scientist and philosophers throughout history. Thanks to the development of increasingly powerful microscopes, the cell, which is the basic element of living matter, can be analyzed and studied in its three functions: reproduction, mutation, and the carrying on of metabolism. The episode ends with comparisons of an amoeba and a mammal, and algae and the giant sequoia tree. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
- Series Description
- Patterns of life has as its theme an explanation of the chemical bases of life, which remain constant whatever form the life itself may take. In its most simple and its most complicated forms, living matter is always based upon the same elementary chemical and physical reactions, explains Dr. Paul Saltman: it is the purpose of this series to describe those reactions, how that are produced, and what substances go into the construction of cells and enzymes, vitamins and viruses the elements of life. Using visual aids such as scale models, diagrams, and even rare views through electronic microscope, Dr. Saltman analyzes in laymans terms the complicated and fascinating chemical systems which weave together into the Patterns of Life. The series was produced for NET by the Department of Cinema of the University of Southern California. The series consists solely of lectures and demonstrations by Dr. Saltman presented in half-hour long episodes. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
- Broadcast Date
- 1960-01-31
- Asset type
- Episode
- Media type
- Moving Image
- Credits
-
-
Host:
Saltman, Paul
Producing Organization: University of Southern California
- AAPB Contributor Holdings
-
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2323614-1 (MAVIS Item ID)
Format: 16mm film
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: B&W
-
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2323615-1 (MAVIS Item ID)
Format: 16mm film
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: B&W
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- Citations
- Chicago: “Patterns of Life; 1; What is Life?,” 1960-01-31, Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed June 7, 2026, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-q23qv3d358.
- MLA: “Patterns of Life; 1; What is Life?.” 1960-01-31. Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. June 7, 2026. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-q23qv3d358>.
- APA: Patterns of Life; 1; What is Life?. Boston, MA: Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-q23qv3d358