Objective: To identify observable characteristics of life in videos of various organisms and describe those characteristics.
Directions:
1. On the data table, click on the Category name C. elegans.
2. Read the introduction, then play the video.
3. Fill in the characteristics of life that you observe.
4. Describe the observed characteristics.
5. Repeat steps #1-4 for the remaining seven organisms in the data table.
Characteristics of Life Data Table
Category
Description of Observed
Characteristics (Write in full
sentences for each observed
characteristic.)
C. elegans
(Caenorhabditis elegans)
Characteristics of Life:
-movement
-growth and development
-response to stimuli
(homeostasis)
-reproduction/heredity
-use of energy (metabolism)
-cellular structure
Sea Urchins
(Lytechinus pictus)
Video: Moving C. elegans
Video: Sea urchin cell division
Video: Sea urchin fertilization
Cellular Structure and
Function
Stem Cells
Initials:
Sea Urchins
(Lytechinus pictus)
____
Blood Cells
Video: Human white blood
cells
Cell Motility
Video: Crawling Amoeba
Videos: Compare Mouse
embryonic stem cells—movie 1
with Heart cells grown from
mouse embryonic stem cells—
movie 1
Video: Elodea leaf cells
Zebrafish
(Danio rerio)
Video: Zebrafish development
Exploratorium Microscope Imaging Station
Now that you have explored
the characteristics of living
things…How can you
determine if something is
alive? Write a paragraph using
the 5 questions on your sheet
as a guide.
Observing the Characteristics of Life