Cell Biology and Disease

Unit 36C: Looking for Signs of Micro-Life

December 8, 2014

Activity 36C: Looking for Signs of Micro-LifeDecember 8, 2014

Getting Started: How could you figure out if something is a microbe?

Introduction: Read pg.C-27 RACE: What makes people sick?

Looking for Signs of Microbe-LifeIf someone asked you what makes you sick, you might answer that germs, bacteria, or viruses make you sick. During the early 1900’s, some people thought an infectious disease like th flu could be caused by nakedness, contaminated food, irritating gases in the atmosphere, unclean clothing, open windows, closed windows, old books, dirt, dust, or supernatural causes.

What does cause infectious diseases? You can… What kinds of microbes can you find?

36C

Challenge: Rewrite the challenge question in your own words.

Key Words: disease, microbe

Procedure: Have you read and do you understand the procedure on pg. C-28? Write one sentence that describes what you will be doing.

Results: Common Microbes

Drawing Organizer 35.3Discussing our results

Analysis: Answer Analysis Questions 1 through 5.

Reflection: Imagine that you are a researcher studying microbes. Would you choose to study a disease causing microbe or one that does not cause disease? Explain you reasoning.

Common Microbes

Drawing Organizer 35.1

Discussion of observations

• What characteristics did you look for to determine if something was a microbe?

• Could something that doesn’t move still be alive?

• Were plants or algae moving?

• Is it possible some microbes exist that are smaller then we can observe? How could we collect evidence to prove or disprove your theory?

Where would you expect to find microbes and what do you think they might be doing there?

• Most microbes are free-living (non-parasitic)• They live on almost every environment on

Earth, including:– Inside rocks - in hot springs– In the soil - crude oil

• They are vital parts of the food web– decomposers - scavengers– Carnivores - herbivores– Parasites - producers

Bacteria Cell Structure

• Cell Wall • Cell Membrane• Cytoplasm• Ribosomes – produce protein • No Nucleus; genetic material floats in the cytoplasm

• Shape– Rod– Sphere– Spiral

Bacteria v Animal Cells

Bacteria Cells

Question 2

• Develop three rules you will use the next time you do microscopy drawings:

1. Make an exact copy of what you see2. Do not draw everything you see.3. Label the drawing.4. Give the magnification.5. Focus on the object with low power before using high

power.

Question 3

As a scientist, you are asked to describe two of the microbes that you saw to someone who has never looked through a microscope. Write a short paragraph describing the microbes you observed.