Synopsis
You might relish cabbage about as much as a two-month bout of chickenpox, but would you consider it as a leafy long lost relative? James May does, thanks to the genius of a man who changed the world, Charles Darwin. But exactly how does Darwin's famous theory of natural selection explain why we are all mutants and what war is actually good for? James treks off into the wilderness with the natural advantage of fantastic motion graphics and vivid animation, to show us just how.
- Programme: James May's Things You Need To Know
- Series: 2
- Episode: 03:...about Evolution
- Channel: BBC Two
- Broadcast year: 2013
- Science
Licence: ERA Licence required
Free to watch for UK schools, colleges and universities with an ERA Licence
UK only
Staff and students of licensed education establishments only
Cannot be adapted
Add Notes
More clips from James May's Things You Need to Know
S02E01:...about Einstein | James May's Things You Need to Know
S02E01:...about Einstein | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May reveals what you need to know about Albert Einstein and his theories, including what E=mc2 actually ...
S02E02:...about Brains | James May's Things You Need to Know
S02E02:...about Brains | James May's Things You Need to Know
Do you really know what is happening inside your head? James May cranks open your cranium to find out about beha...
S02E04:...about Speed | James May's Things You Need to Know
S02E04:...about Speed | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains all you need to know about speed with a fast-moving mix of animation and motion graphics, incl...
S02E05:...about Engineering | James May's Things You Need to Know
S02E05:...about Engineering | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May uncovers the fascinating science of engineering, giving a 'nuts and bolts' account of how things ...
S02E06:...about Chemistry | James May's Things You Need to Know
S02E06:...about Chemistry | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May distills the essence of all you need to know about chemistry, including how pheromones work, if lea...
Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know
Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains about speed, using a fast-moving mix of animation and graphics. Here he explores why te...
More resources about Inheritance variation and evolution
Charles Darwin And The Tree Of Life
Charles Darwin And The Tree Of Life
David Attenborough is a passionate Darwinian, and sees evolution as the cornerstone of all the programmes and series he has ever made. He...
Designer Babies | Short Circuit
Designer Babies | Short Circuit
A report on genetic engineering. Will parents one day be able to design their own children?
01: What Is Life? | Wonders of Life
01: What Is Life? | Wonders of Life
In the world's most volcanic region, South East Asia, Prof Brian Cox explores the thin line that separates the living from the dead, posi...
S01E01: Reproduction | Dara O'Briain's Science Club
S01E01: Reproduction | Dara O'Briain's Science Club
Dara O Briain and a team of experts look at the world of reproduction and inheritance. Comedian Ed Byrne discovers just h...
Playing God | Horizon
Playing God | Horizon
Adam Rutherford meets the spider-goat, created by scientists and the product of a new field of research - synthetic biology.
The Gene Revolution: Changing Human Nature | Storyville
The Gene Revolution: Changing Human Nature | Storyville
The biggest tech revolution of the 21st century isn't digital, it's biological. What will CRISPR mean for human evolu...
Learning Zone: Episode 2 | Wonders of Life
Learning Zone: Episode 2 | Wonders of Life
From algal cells to human beings we are all made of the same things and governed by the same laws as the stars themselves. This is...
The genetic modification debate | Science Britannica - Learning Zone
The genetic modification debate | Science Britannica - Learning Zone
Brian Cox explores the science behind the genetic modification of plants, and the ongoing debate around ...
Unlocking The Code | The Gene Code
Unlocking The Code | The Gene Code
Dr Adam Rutherford takes the viewer on a rollercoaster ride as he explores the consequences of one of the biggest scientific projects of a...
A World Without Down's Syndrome?
A World Without Down's Syndrome?
Documentary about Down's syndrome and the ethics of pregnancy screening, exploring the thinking around the proposed new screening test and i...
Learning Zone: Episode 1 | Wonders of Life
Learning Zone: Episode 1 | Wonders of Life
There are thought to be as many as 100 million different species on Earth, but every one of them has sprung from just a single lif...
01: The Book of Life | The Gene Code
01: The Book of Life | The Gene Code
Adam Rutherford explores how the entire human genome was decoded, discovering that every human carries the entire story of life on earth...
02: Predictor | How to Build a Human
02: Predictor | How to Build a Human
A look at the veracity of scientists' claims that they are on the verge of being able to predict our futures by analysing our genes and ...
IVF | How Science Changed Our World
IVF | How Science Changed Our World
Professor Robert Winston meets families who benefitted from breakthrough's in research which lead to IVF treatments.
Sickle cell disease | Storyville
Sickle cell disease | Storyville
Sickle cell disease is an inherited disease, caused by a single change in the DNA sequence.
05: What Is the Secret of Life? | The Story of Science: Power, Proof and Passion
05: What Is the Secret of Life? | The Story of Science: Power, Proof and Passion
How the secret of life has been examined through the prism of the most complex organism know...
Darwin | Bitesize Secondary
Darwin | Bitesize Secondary
A selection of clips taken from BBC programmes about Darwin and evolutionary biology. The programme includes material on adaptation and natural s...
DNA Discovery | The Gene Code
DNA Discovery | The Gene Code
How does the DNA code work?
Dolly: The Sheep That Changed the World
Dolly: The Sheep That Changed the World
Documentary telling the story of the scientists who created Dolly, the sheep that changed the world.
Embryonic stem cells | i-Science
Embryonic stem cells | i-Science
Stem cell research raises ethical issues, which makes some people uncomfortable about it, in spite of the potential benefits.
More from James May
Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know
Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains about speed, using a fast-moving mix of animation and graphics. Here he explores why te...
S01E01 | James May's Cars of the People
S01E01 | James May's Cars of the People
James May discovers how cars became an everyday part of people's lives. His journey begins in Europe, where he reveals a tale of war,...
S01E06: Music | Dara O'Briain's Science Club
S01E06: Music | Dara O'Briain's Science Club
Dara O Briain and his expert team examine the science behind music. James May explores how music is linked to our emotions and M...
Creating moulds | James May's Man Lab
Creating moulds | James May's Man Lab
James re-forms some impractical kitchen items into the perfect lemon squeezer in his very own foundry.
06: Big City, Bright Lights | James May's 20th Century
06: Big City, Bright Lights | James May's 20th Century
Each day 180,000 people move into a city somewhere on the planet. James May investigates how the high-rise urban livin...