What is a good dvd documentary on evolution

Cafe Society
1

Or multiple documentaries, either way.

What I’m looking for is more a documentary that covers life in its entirety (the origins, the single cell phase, Cambrian explosion, age of giant insects, dinosaurs, multiple mass extinctions, etc) as well as a documentary that covers human evolution in its entirety (rather than just focusing on the last few millions years when we went from run of the mill primates to primates with much bigger brains). It can be multi part as well as a single video.

This timeline covers humans back to single cell organisms through our evolution as sponges, worms, fish, reptiles, mammals, primates, etc. I notice some evolution documentaries only cover human as primates or as hominids, they don’t really venture past that in describing our history.

2

Haven’t seen them, but Howard Hughes Medical Institute might have some for free:

[=23448&field_bio_biointeractive_topics[1]=23477"]Link](http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/browse?field_bio_format_type[0)

I know I got some free DVDs from them a few years ago.

Evolution: Constant Change and Common Threads

How has the amazing diversity of plants and animals evolved? What can fossils, butterflies, and stickleback fish tell us about the deep common ancestry of all living forms? In four presentations, Dr. Sean B. Carroll and Dr. David M. Kingsley explore how key developmental genes, natural selection, and time fuel the evolutionary process. They also discuss how Charles Darwin’s ideas about evolution ignited a revolution in biology that continues to this day.

This DVD set includes detailed chapter search by scientific topic; direct access to animations; English subtitles; interviews with the speakers; special features on genetic switches, selection, stickleback fossils, and visualizing gene activity; and a discussion on evolution and religion featuring two theological experts.

Presented at HHMI’s 2005 Holiday Lectures on Science. Two discs, lecture time approx. 240 min.

Evolution: Fossils, Genes, and Mousetraps

Leading evolution educator Ken Miller discusses the controversy surrounding the teaching of evolution, presents compelling evidence for evolution and reasons why “intelligent design” is not scientific. The presentation also features Dr. Miller’s responses to questions from a live audience of high school students.

This DVD includes detailed chapter search by scientific topic; beautiful explanatory graphics; and English subtitles.

Presented at HHMI September 2006. One disc, lecture time approx. 90 min.
Available Now

3

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bbc+documentary+evolution&sm=3

4

Not exactly what you’re looking for, but the classic Attenborough series “Life on Earth”, from the 70s, gives a nice overview of the evolutionary history of, well, life on Earth. The whole series is on YouTube.

5

Depending on who the audience is, “growing up in the universe” Royal Institute Christmas Lectures. Richard Dawkins gives a nice overview pitched at a fairly young level (obviously) but it is pretty good as a starting point.

6

I liked David Attenborough’s “First Life” or “Origin of Life” Most of it is available on youtube, and possibly other places, too.