ALIEN EXPLORERSBIOCHEMICAL PROCESSES NECESSARY FOR LIFE ON EARTH

Ralph Siegel

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ALIEN EXPLORERSOur unit goal : to investigate how living organisms on Earth maintain a dynamic equilibrium that sustains life

Our unit is on Dynamic Equilibrium and

Homeostasis

The first biochemical process we examine is

photosynthesis

OUR LAB GOAL: UNDERSTANDING PHOTOSYNTHESISthe most significant biochemical process carried on by living things

PHOTOSYNTHESIS – THE ENERGY OF THE SUN TRANSFERRED TO EARTH BIOLOGY

THE ENERGY FOR LIFE COMES FROM THE SUN

PHOTO SYNTHESIS

WHAT IMPORTANT INFORMATION CAN WE LEARN FROM THE TERM?

sunlight build from smaller parts

Students begin to understand that light is an essentialelement of the process of photosynthesis

WHAT ABOUT ON OUR ALIEN HOME PLANET?

Our world has two suns – how do you think that will affect the process and rate of photosynthesis?

www.himho.com

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LIGHT SOURCES ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS

commons.wikimedia.org www.phys.vt.edu

www.opfinitytech.com

bayhealing.com

INCANDESCENT

FLUORESCENT

LONG-WAVE UV

SUNLIGHT

Will different light sources

affect the rate of

photosynthesis?

Student teams will observe the growth of bean plants under different light sources, and no light, and compare them to a control plant grown in sunlight. Each plant will be placed in a box to ensure each is exposed to its particular light source, and no other, for the school day. Plants in sunlight will be placed into boxes after the school day. The rate of photosynthesis will be determined by the growth of the bean plant.

http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/rates-of-photosynthesis/

COLLECTION OF DATAEach team will measure the growth of their two bean plants, one grown under their particular light source, or no light, and their control plant grown in sunlight, on a daily basis. The HYDRATOR member must be sure to water their plants daily (VERY IMPORTANT!!)

Data to be recorded daily!!

Students decide that noting the weather

is important for plants in sunlight

ALIEN TEAM MEMBER ROLES

PREDICTOR – predict what will happen COLLECTOR – measure plants and record

HYDRATOR - waterer

RESEARCHER – support or disprove conclusions

SKEPTIC – looks for otherexplanations to explain findings

CONCLUSIONS OF OUR BEAN PLANT LAB

Bean plants grew the most in sunlight, which contains a balance of the wavelengths of light that promotes photosynthesis.

Fluorescent light provided the blue wavelengths, important for leaf growth.

Incandescent light was next. It doesn’t provide as much of the blue wavelengths.

Long-wave UV didn’t promote good plant growth.

Plants grown without light died. Light is essential for photosynthesis.

www.botanicalspirit.com

OBJECTIVES FOR THIS LAB ACTIVITY(2 week duration)

Students should understand that photosynthesis, a basic biochemical process, is important to sustain

life.

The importance of light energy to photosynthesis.

Energy for life comes from the sun and photosynthesis traps this energy and converts it into

the chemical bond energy of organic compounds.

These compounds are used by organisms as a source of food and cellular energy.

www.paksc.org

OUR WORK ON EARTH IS NOT COMPLETE

Alien Commander, Admiral Ackbar, tells his interplanetary explorersthat there are other biochemical processes and substances that are common in living organisms on Earth and promote life. These include:

Cellular RespirationEnzymes – which control biochemical processes

Much work needs to be done before we can leave Earth and searchfor life on other planets!