The squid and its giant nerve fibre.

Date:
1976
  • Videos

About this work

Description

Off the shore of Plymouth, the marine biology research ship, Sula, goes in search of squid. The narrator explains how the squid has significant scientific interest due to their similarities with vertebrates. Captive squid are seen in a tank. Meantimes, the fishermen sort the catch, putting the live squid into barrels. The special features of the squid are explained; it can expel a considerable amount of water in relation to its size - a captive specimen performs this feat. They have evolved a giant axon which allows them to propel themselves in a short burst of speed (the 'action potential'). Professor J. Z. Young dissects a squid in the laboratory and the nerves are visible to the naked eye. During his research in the 1930s, he discovered what initially looked to be a blood vessel, but turned out to be a nerve fibre, proven by electrical stimulation. Within the nerve fibre there is a giant axon, comprising of some of the largest known animal cells. Professor Baker recreates an experiment in the laboratory originally carried out by Alan Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley (who were Nobel prize winners for this work). There is a brief clip of Alan Hodgkin in the laboratory. Other laboratory experiments of a technical nature are performed. At the end, the scientists who participated in the laboratory recreations are listed as follows: Dr P. C. Caldwell, Sir Alan L. Hodgkin, Professor R.D Keynes, J. E. (John) Kimura, Dr P. McNaughton, Dr H. Meves, Professor T. I. Shaw, Professor J. Z. Young. Every winter the research laboratory fish for more squid to further their research.

Publication/Creation

Plymouth : Marine Biological Association of the U.K., 1976.

Physical description

1 videocassette (Digibeta) (29 min.) : sound, color, PAL.
1 DVD (29 min.) : sound, color

Notes

This video was created with materials from the BFI National Archive. The new transfers taken from the original film production elements were funded by the Wellcome Library, Marine Biological Association of the UK and the Physiological Society.

Creator/production credits

Filmed with the help of the director and staff at the Plymouth Laboratory of the Marine Biological Association. Scientific Advisor Hans Meves. Written, photographed and produced by J. B. Gilpin-Brown.

Copyright note

J. B. Gilpin-Brown 1975

Type/Technique

Languages

Where to find it

  • Location Access
    Closed stores
    5251S

    Note

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    5251D

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