Characteristics of Life Lab
The steps below will guide you in asking and answering scientific questions. This process of
making observations and doing experiments is called the scientific method.
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Ask a Question
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Do Background Research
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Construct a Hypothesis
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Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
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Analyze Your Data
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Draw a Conclusion
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Communicate Your Results
The class’s goal today is to prove that mealworms are living. You’ll use the scientific method,
observations, research and knowledge of the seven characteristics of life to achieve this goal.
1. Ask a Question – Record the question related to this characteristic of life (your characteristic
will be given to by the teacher). The question should be simple…”Does the mealworm have (insert characteristic of life)?
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2. Do Background Research – Record information on the characteristic of life you are testing.
This should only concern one of the seven characteristics of life. Only include facts, no new
observations or inferences are needed here. This information is from your textbook, class
discussion and the info sheet at your lab table.
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3. Construct a Hypothesis – “If...then...” statement.
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4. Test your hypothesis by following lab procedures at your station. – Only observations
are allowed here. Inferences are not appropriate at this time. Record your observations below.
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5. Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion – What does your research mean? This is
where inferences are finally allowed. Each conclusion should be supported with your
observations. Try to connect your background knowledge from Step 2 with your new
information from Step 4. This should be more than 2 but less than 5 sentences.
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6. Communicate Your Results – Share your results with the rest of the class. Make a brief
outline of what you will share.
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Station 1: Cellular Organization Background Information
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Single-cell organisms have everything they need to live.
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Multicellular organisms, have cells that can do only certain things.
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Living things must be able to organize simple substances into complex ones.
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Living things organize cells at several levels:
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Tissue - a group of cells that perform a common function.
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Organ - a group of tissues that perform a common function.
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Organ system - a group of organs that perform a common function.
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Organism - any complete living thing.
Research and Experimentation
Observe the mealworms and answering the following questions while researching.
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Does the mealworm have different body parts?
Are their body parts made of tissues (how can you tell)?
Do their tissues have individual cells (obtain a prepared slide of mealworm tissue)?
Station 2: Homeostasis Background Information
Homeostasis describes the successful survival of cells inside of an organism and the overall
balance of systems within the organism. It is similar to the idea of equilibrium.
When discussing the internal workings of an organism, homeostasis describes an environment
that supports the survival of cells. Many systems work together to maintain homeostasis inside of
living things. Homeostasis is achieved by making sure the temperature, pH (acidity), and oxygen
levels (and many other factors) are set just right for your cells to survive. Homeostasis levels are
different for each species.
A good example of system regulation of your body can be found in the regulation of body
temperatures. You are a warm blooded organism, which means you regulate your own body
temperature internally. Some other organisms, like mealworms are cold blooded and their body
temperature depends on the environment.
Research and Experimentation
Observe the mealworms and answer the following questions while researching.
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Do the mealworms act differently in different temperature environments?
What types of behaviors can you observe in the cold and the warm environments?
Station 3: Metabolism Background Information
Metabolism is such a big word to explain a simple idea. We all
need energy to survive. Whether we are plants, animals, or
bacteria, we all need energy. Energy doesn't just float around in
a form we can use to survive. Living things need to obtain
energy and find a way to utilize it. For example, animals eat
food and break it down (digestion). Plants make their own food
through photosynthesis and utilize the sugars for energy and
growth. These processes of obtaining, converting it into usable
form, and using it for life processes is called metabolism.
Simply put, metabolism is the total of all the chemical reactions
an organism needs to survive.
Research and Experimentation
Observe the mealworms and answering the following questions while researching.
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Do the mealworms eat?
How active are the mealworms? Describe their behavior.
Do the mealworms create waste products?
Station 4: Grow and Develop
Research and Experimentation
Observe the mealworms and answering the following questions while researching.
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Are there mealworms of different sizes?
Do the mealworms shed their skin?
Measure and record the length of five different mealworms chosen at random.
Station 5: Adapt & Evolve
Taken as a group, living things evolve.
Mealworm Classification
Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Tenebrionidae
Genus: Tenebrio
Species: molitor
Meaning:
-are multicellular eukaryotes
-have jointed limbs and exoskeletons
-3 body segments, 3 pair of jointed legs
-beetles (sheathed wing)
-darkling beetles
-means ‘lover of darkness’
-hardly, with difficulty
Binomial name: Tenebrio molitor
The mealworm is native to Eurasia and evolved from earlier beetle ancestors. Like many
ground beetles, it has many things in common; in terms of body shape, appendage structures, and
behaviors such as how they feed and a preference for living in dark areas (some are even
nocturnal). In its adult stage, these mealworm beetles do not often come into contact with other
living organisms. These beetles then display a quite interesting behavior. If they feel threatened
they turn upside down on their heads and then spray chemicals from their rear scent gland
towards the danger.
Being native to Eurasia, the mealworm has evolved naturally in a temperate climate,
where winters are characterized by cold temperatures. These mealworms are cold blooded, yet
they can survive over the cold winter due to the fact that they produce anti-freeze proteins, that
prevent their body tissues from completely freezing. In fact these proteins are so effective, that
larvae can survive to -12 C temperatures. The yellow mealworm beetle is similar to the fire
colored beetle, and by studying and comparing these anti-freeze proteins scientists are learning
about when these beetles last had a common ancestor.
1) What are two adaptations that the yellow mealworm beetle has? How do they
help them survive?
2) The whirligig beetle is more distantly related to the yellow mealworm than the
fire colored beetle. Predict: Which anti-freeze proteins would be more similar to
the yellow mealworm’s proteins, the whirligig or the fire colored? Why?
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Lab Analysis and Conclusion Question
Write a short essay (at least 2 paragraphs) explaining why the mealworm should
be considered a living thing. Include all 5 characteristics studied lab for your
essay. It is expected that you include specific evidence and observations from the
lab and from the information given to you from other groups to support your
response.
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