The Characteristics of Living Things   Starring
Oxytricha sp.	Paramecium, Amoeba	Amoeba sp.
schmied/reid©2010	and Euglena	all rights reserved

Please complete the questions below using complete sentence answers that reflect the question.

All living things have characteristics in common .

For example, many living organisms are made of only one cell. These one celled, or unicellular, organisms (including bacteria, plants, fungi and animals) have the same characteristics of living things that you have!

It is simply amazing that a simple one celled organism can do all the basic life functions you can do!...... But wait a minute, let's put this in perspective....

Human Brain Cell

How many cells does a human actually have?

1. Do a Google search for " How many cells are in the human body?" Look for a science type site then write down the range of answers you find.

.... In reality this isn't the whole answer because there are lots more cells than that in a human body. Scientists actually believe that there are at least 10 bacteria in and on your body for every 1 human cell in your body!

The whole point is that it takes a lot of human cells for you to do life functions, while there are lots of organisms that can do all life functions using only one cell!

Beluga Whale and calf

So what are the characteristics of Living Things?

Most scientists agree that living things have Seven Characteristics..... but, as always, there are exceptions!

Living Things:

1. Are organized to do simple and complex functions

2. Get, store and use energy: (ex: make or take in nutrients, do work, & release waste)

3. Keep proper internal balance (this is called homeostasis)

4. Grow

5. Reproduce

6. Respond to stimulus (ex: move, defend, flee etc)

7. Adapt to environmental conditions

Please read the above list twice, just to make sure you "Get it".

Let's look at three types of amazing singled cell organisms and see how these organisms have the same characteristics of living things that you do.

Euplotes (left) & Stylonychia (right)

The Smallest Page on the Web

 Let's start our exploration by visiting "The Smallest Page on the Web"

 

Peranema sp.

Flagellated Protozoa basics

2. Select Flagellated Protozoa: these are unicellular (one cell) animals that are neither animals, plants, bacteria or fungi.

a. Explain how protozoa move.

scroll to the Euglena section on this page and....

Tell what Euglena use to:

b. Keep DNA in ( DNA = genetic material )

c. Store energy in

d. Detect light

e. Move (tell two ways)

Amoeba proteus

Amoebas

3. Now select Sun animalcules and Amoebas.

a. Explain how an Amoeba moves

b. Describe how an Amoeba captures prey to get food energy).

c. Tell how an Amoeba gets rid of (expels) excess water to maintain internal balance

d. What is the name of the Amoeba's food storing organelle?

e. Explain how Amoebas reproduce.

Paramecium sp. stained

Do Paramecium have all the Characteristics of Living Thngs?

 

4. Paramecium and the Characteristics of Living Things. So what is a Paramecium?

Go to the Visual Dictionary and check out a sylized figure of this one celled speedster. The notes on the bottom of the page tell what the Paramecium's different organelles and other parts do.

Now go back to the Smallest page on the Web and select Ciliates .

Let's systematically investigate Paramecium to see if how this organism has the characteristics of living things. Please review the data and answer these questions

a. Tell how Paramecium feed

b. Explain how Paramecium store and move food energy

c. Tell how Paramecium maintain proper water balance.

d. Describe how a Paramecium is organized to do simple and complex functions even though the Paramecium only is a unicellular (one celled) organism.

(or, to ask another way, What do Paramecium use instead of specialized cells and give examples.)

e. Explain how a Paramecium responds and defends itself from predators

f. Describe the two ways Ciliates can reproduce.

Paramecium sp.

Extremely Awesome Protozoan Extra Credit

1. Watch these 5 Cool Videos of Paramecium in action.

a. Tell me what was cool in each.

b. And... get your parents to certify that you watched all five videos.

i. Flagellum and cillia movement

ii. Paramecium eating

iii. Paramecium dividing

iv. Paramecium Conjugating (Trading parts of their DNA!)

v. Amoeba eating Paramecium

 

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© 2010 John Schmied & Mike Reid all rights reserved