Experiments to investigate the processes of life

Equipment

Large enclosed container 

Glucose

Camera

Method

1. Put the glucose into the large enclosed container.

2. Put the selected organism into the large enclosed container.

3. Monitor the organism through the camera for 3 hours, and check if it moves any part of its body towards the glucose, or towards anything else.

4. If it does, it moves and carries out the life process of movement. 

Equipment

Large enclosed container

Datalogger

Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Sensors

Method

1. Make sure the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the large enclosed container are equal.

2. Place the selected organism into the large enclosed container.

3. Measure the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the large enclosed container over the course of 3 hours. 

4. If by the end of the 3 hours, the oxygen level has decreased and the carbon dioxide level has increased, then the organism respires and therefore carries out the life process of respiration.

Equipment

Choice chamber

Heat source

Cooling source

Method

1. Place the selected organism into the choice chamber.

2. Heat one of the sides of the choice chamber, and cool the other. 

3. Monitor if the selected organism reacts to the change in temperature by moving. 

4. If it does, it is sensitive and therefore carries out the life process of sensitivity.

Equipment

Large enclosed container

Glucose

Method

1. Place the glucose in the large enclosed container.

2. Place the selected organism into the large enclosed container.

3. Monitor the selected organism over the course of two weeks. If it increases in size, it grows and therefore carries out the life process of growth.

Equipment

Large enclosed container

Method

1. Place two of the selected organism into the large enclosed container.

2. Monitor the organisms over the course of a year. If by the end of that time, there is more of the organism, it reproduces and therefore carries out the life process of reproduction.

Equipment

Large enclosed container

Glucose

Datalogger

Sensors

Method

1. Place the glucose in the large enclosed container.

2. Place the selected organism into the large enclosed container.

3. Monitor the organism over the course of two weeks. If there is any unusual change in the environment, or the organism has physically excreted something, then the organism excretes, and therefore carries out the life process of excretion.

Equipment

Large enclosed container 

Glucose

Camera

Method

1. Put the glucose into the large enclosed container.

2. Put the selected organism into the large enclosed container.

3. Monitor the organism through the camera for 3 hours, and check if it moves any part of its body towards the glucose.

4. If it does, it needs nutrition and therefore carries out the life process of nutrition.