In this short film Dr Michael Mosley interviews a surgeon who is pioneering the use of leeches in medical research.
He allows a leech to attach to his arm and suck his blood, the mouth of the leech is seen close up.
The leech multiplies its body mass by six or seven times and will now not need to feed for several months.
The surgeon describes how leeches are used to release excess blood from parts of human bodies that have been reattached (e.g. a finger).
He also describes how leeches contain the most powerful anticoagulant known to man.
This short film is from the BBC series, Michael Mosley: Infested! Living with parasites.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS SHORT FILM CONTAINS DISTURBING SCENES AND TEACHER REVIEW IS RECOMMENDED PRIOR TO USE IN CLASS.
Teacher Notes
Students could investigate the relationship between humans and leeches in terms of the benefits or harm to each in relation to energy and nutrients.
Groups could discuss how this (and other) relationship has been manipulated for use in medicine.
Curriculum Notes
This short film is suitable for teaching biology at KS4/GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 4/5 in Scotland.
More from Michael Mosley: Infested! Living with Parasites:
Infested by hookworm. video
In this short film Dr Michael Mosley investigates hookworms - large parasites which invade our immune system. He meets a sufferer of Crohn’s disease who infected himself with hookworms to reduce his symptoms.
Infested by lice. video
In this short film Dr Michael Mosley visits a 'delousing salon' in London to collect live head lice.
Infested by tapeworms. video
In this short film Dr Michael Mosley visits Kenya to see how the beef tapeworm needs to infect both beef cattle and humans to complete its life-cycle.
Infested by Toxoplasma gondii. video
In this short film Dr Michael Mosley describes the infection of household cats with Toxoplasma gondii.
Infested with malaria. video
In this short film Dr Michael Mosley investigates the parasite Plasmodium that carries malaria. This disease kills more than half a million people per year.
