Characteristics of Life Lab

PSI Biology Name______

Problem

What defines a living thing?

Materials

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Per student:

15 cm square wax paper

2 toothpicks

Per group:

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Hands lens

1 tablespoon of sugar (per group)

½ cup of water at about 45 degrees Celsius (per group)

8 clear plastic bottles (4 oz – 16 oz) 8 balloons (15 inch)

Measuring spoons

½ cup measuring cup

Plastic funnel

Glucose strips

Watch or timer

Mystery Matter #1

Mystery Matter #2

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Procedure

1.  Collect the wax paper and toothpicks. Place 5 – 10 drops of Mystery Matter #1 on the paper. Be sure to have drops of a variety of sizes on the paper.

2.  Look at the droplets with a hand lens and probe these samples with your toothpicks. Record your observations. Does this matter exhibit life-like characteristics? Explain.

3.  Place Mystery Matter #2 on the wax paper and use the hand lens to examine the matter. Record your observations. Does this matter exhibit life-like characteristics? Explain.

4.  To further examine if the 2 types of Mystery Matter are living we will look at whether these samples use sugar for energy. Label the plastic bottles 1-8. Add sugar and water in the amounts described below in Table 1.

Table 1: Solution Directions

Bottle # / Amount of Mystery Matter #1 / Amount of Sugar / Amount of Hot Water
1 / ¼ tsp. / none / ½ cup
2 / ¼ tsp. / ¼ tsp. / ½ cup
3 / ¼ tsp. / ½ tsp. / ½ cup
4 / ¼ tsp. / 1 tsp. / ½ cup
Bottle # / Amount of Mystery Matter #2 / Amount of Sugar / Amount of Hot Water
5 / ¼ tsp. / none / ½ cup
6 / ¼ tsp. / ¼ tsp. / ½ cup
7 / ¼ tsp. / ½ tsp. / ½ cup
8 / ¼ tsp. / 1 tsp. / ½ cup

5.  Dip a glucose strip into the first bottle. Repeat this step using new strips for each bottle. Record your results below.

6.  Place empty balloons over each of the bottles.

7.  Gently shake the bottle’s contents to uniformly mix the substances together.

8.  Record the appearance of the bottles below. Allow the bottle to set for 30 minutes.

9.  After the 30-minute period has elapsed, gently shake the bottles again and record your observations below.

10. Let the bottles sit for another 30 minutes. Record your observations below.

11. Find a safe place to store your bottles for a 24-hour period. Record your results after the 24-hour period has elapsed.

12. Remove the balloons and test each bottle for glucose. Record your results below.

Data

Table 2: Results

Time / Approximate Balloon Volume
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8
0 min
20 min
20 min
24 hours
Time / Glucose Present (Y/N)
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8
0 min
20 min
20 min
24 hours

Analysis

1.  List the characteristics of all living things.

2.  Based on your analysis is Mystery Matter #1 alive? Mystery Matter #2? Why?

3.  What did the presence of sugar and gas indicate? Explain.

4.  Do you think that determining whether a substance is living is something that can always be done with a quick test? Explain.

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