Characteristics of Life
Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is twofold: to learn how to prepare a wet mount of microorganisms called protozoa and to examine this preparation with the microscope to observe or identify characteristics of life. The student should be familiar with the care and use of the microscope.
Materials and Methods: The student will require a microscope, clean glass slides, cover slips, lens paper, dropper, and a protozoan culture from a biological supply house. Prepare a wet mount in the following manner:
| Obtain a clean glass slide and a cover slip. |
| Next get a drop of the protozoan culture with the dropper. |
| Add the drop onto the slide in the central part. |
| Lower the cover slip so that the bottom edge touches the drop, and it is at about a forty-five degree angle. |
| Now lower the cover slip slowly onto the protozoan
sample. |
This technique should reduce the number of air bubbles on the wet mount.
Experiment: Examine the wet mount on lower power. Your task is to note features of the protozoan and how they react to one another. Drawings are not necessary.
Conclusion: Describe how the organisms you see might illustrate the following attributes of life:
responsiveness:
evolution:
reproduction:
metabolism:
growth:
movement:
complexity and organization: