Thursday, December 12, 2013

Identifying Microorganisms

In this activity you will use MULTIPLE websites to try to identify some of the microorganisms you are observing in your sample of pond water. 

Use the following websites to help you identify as many of the organisms you can see in our pond water sample as possible. Draw detailed diagrams of the organisms you see and draw a comparison diagram from one of the websites.

You MUST try to identify the organisms you see in your water sample by using the images and descriptions you find on the websites. Take a look at several of the websites before you decide what you think the organisms are.

Pond Water Critters ID page

Pond Life ID kit

Virtual Pond Dip

AAAS Pond Water A Closer Look

Pond 2 – Life in a drop of Pond Water


Once you think you've identified a microorganism you may search for other images or videos of it online to confirm your identification.

For example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmwN_mD7TvY 
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocv67Px49AA&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL3900A98EEBD72DC2

Also try to identify any organelles you can in the microorganisms you observe. You may see nuclei or flagella or other organelles.
Flash Animation of Cells to DNA – Compares Eukaryotic cells to bacteria and zooms from chromosomes to chromatin to dna.

Cell Size and Scale - interactive
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/scale/