Name:___________________________________________________________________________
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.
Characteristics of Life Data Table
Category
C. elegans
(Caenorhabditis elegans)
Video: Moving C. elegans
Sea Urchins
(Lytechinus pictus)
Characteristics of Life:
-contains DNA
-grows and develops
-responds to stimuli
(homeostasis)
-reproduces
-uses energy (metabolism)
-has a cellular structure
1. Movement
Description of Observed Characteristics (Write in
full sentences for each observed characteristic.)
2. Use of energy
2. The food is a source of energy.
3. Reproduction
3. Their eggs are visible.
1.
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3.
1.
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1. The worms crawl to locate their food.
Video: Sea urchin cell division
Sea Urchins
(Lytechinus pictus)
Video: Sea urchin fertilization
Blood Cells
Video: Human white blood
cells
Cellular Structure and
Function
Video: Elodea leaf cells
Exploratorium Microscope Imaging Station
Observing the Characteristics of Life
Stem Cells
1.
Videos: Compare Mouse
embryonic stem cells—movie 1
with Heart cells grown from
mouse embryonic stem cells—
movie 1
2.
1.
2.
3.
3.
Cell Motility
1.
1.
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4.
Video: Crawling Amoeba
Zebrafish
(Danio rerio)
Video: Zebrafish development
1. Do you think that all characteristics of life must be present in order for something to be alive? Why or
why not?
2. What characteristic is a sure sign that something is “living”? Why do you think?
Exploratorium Microscope Imaging Station
Observing the Characteristics of Life