This on-line collection of exercises can be conducted to illustrate the formation and properties of microbial biofilms. Activities include: A Biofilm Primer, An Interesting Paradox, Build a Biofilm Reactor, Bring 'em Back Alive, Buccal Epithelial Cells & Bacterial Cells: Negative Staining, Buried Slide Technique, Dental Biofilms, Flow Through Gram Stain, Microbial Fishing, Pellicle Formation in a Hay Infusion, Rhizosphere Visualization, Microbial Leaching of Copper Ore, Build a Winogradsky Column, Growth of Dental Plaque in vitro, Biofilms from Soil Crumbs, Vinegar Production and Acetic Acid Titration, Isolation of Azospirillum, Observation of the Formation of Biofilms in a Flowing Environment, Measuring Biofilm Depth.
This 27-page educator guide is a NASA Quest resource about Microbial Ecology and related Astrobiology activities. Students will construct a Winogradsky Column to observe the growth of microbes in a column of mud. During this investigation students will develop a hypothesis, record their observations and results, and form conclusions. They will compare and contrast their methods during the investigation with those of the astrobiologists performing research in the field and the laboratory. It includes student handouts and assessment rubrics that may be duplicated without copyright restrictions.
This five-minute Quick Time video demonstrates how to build a Winogradsky Column. The video is published by NASA Quest and can be used as a teaching supplement to classroom activities including the Winogradsky Column. This video requires Quick Time player to view, which can be downloaded on site.
This Yellowstone National Park web site is dedicated to Lower Geyser Basin. It includes images and descriptions of Queen's Laundry and Sentinel Meadows, Sentinel Cone, Ojo Caliente, Pocket Basin Mud Pots, Imperial Geyser, Spray Geyser, Octopus Spring, Great Fountain Geyser, White Dome Geyser, Pink Cone Geyser, Bead Geyser, Narcissus Geyser, Steady Geyser, Silex Spring, Fountain Paint Pot, Fountain Geyser, Clepsydra Geyser, and Jelly Geyser.
This is a companion website to a NOVA television series investigating strange life-forms found in toxic caverns. The program reviews the traditional theory of cave formation; introduces new theories of microbial sulfuric acid production; examines the role of oil-feeding microbes in dissolving limestone; presents the discovery of microbes in caves that live solely on chemical nutrients; and reviews other extreme environments. The site offers an interview with a microbiologist, an essay by a caver, a slide show of decorated caves, a teacher's guide including the classroom activity entitled "Microbial Townhouse," and interactive animation about cave formation.
This California State University lesson plan contains materials for a five-part activity regarding whether or not nanobacteria are alive. The case-study based activities include: What does it mean to be alive?; What evidence is there that nanobacteria are alive?; More evidence of life; Corroborating evidence (?); and The final chapter (or is it?). The website contains pertinent general information articles and resource lists for students as well as homework assignments based on readings. An answer key is provided, but may require registration to the Case Study in Science Program.
The Stromatolite Explorer video describes an imaginary voyage inside a microbial mat. This Teacherʼs guide contains a more detailed explanation of a number of the concepts discussed in the video, including the graphs presented in the video. The animated video takes students on a journey through a microbial mat. The assigned mission is to probe a microbial mat by following an imaginary 0.10 mm stromatolite explorer as it descends through the layers. On its route, the vehicle takes chemical readings and images of each layer. It addresses the history of microbial mats, their interest to NASA and astrobiology, and the different metabolic activities occurring at each level. The video is seven minutes in length. If you experience difficulty opening the video from the website, right-click and select "save target as." This will allow you to save it to your computer and it should easily open.
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