How the Krebs Cycle Powers Life and Death – With Nick Lane

Explore the fundamental process that animates cells and governs life and death in this 56-minute lecture from The Royal Institution. Delve into the Krebs cycle's pivotal role in biology, challenging the gene-centric view of life. Discover how this remarkable cycle transforms inorganic molecules into life's building blocks and vice versa. Uncover connections between the origin of life, cancer, photosynthetic bacteria, mitochondria, and consciousness. Journey through topics including metabolic pathways, cellular respiration, cancer insights, reverse Krebs cycle, bioinformatics, hydrothermal vents, gene necessity, photosynthesis, predator evolution, and the cycle's role in disease. Gain a deeper understanding of life's coherence and its implications for Earth's history and our own existence.

Metabolic pathways of life
The Krebs cycle - simplified
How cells respire
What cancer taught us about the Krebs cycle
How is the Krebs cycle efficient?
The reverse Krebs cycle
Margaret Dayhoff - the founder of bioinformatics
Discovering alkaline hydrothermal vents
The need for genes
Supercharging the earth's battery through photosynthesis
Rise of the predators
The Krebs cycle in disease