Slime!

We are now studying Kingdom Protista, a large group of organisms ranging from single celled amoeba to giant kelp. The kingdom is vast and contains an extremely wide array of types of life. There are organisms that are animal-like, others that are plant-like, others that are similar to fungi, and even some that contain characteristics of all three. I find many of the organisms in Kingdom Protista fascinating, but my favorite is the slime mold.

BlogWork
Watch the video about the researchers and answer the following questions:

• How would you characterize or classify slime mold (and why)?
• Why might researching slime mold be a lucrative endeavor (why might it make someone a lot of money)?
• How do they conduct their research?

Bonus Video!

Nitrogen Fixation!

As we begin talking about the kingdoms of life on our planet, we will start by learning about the smallest forms of life, known as microbes. Microbes are tiny, tiny forms of life that are essential to the growth and development of all other aspects of life. While there is a tendency to be repulsed by the thought that our planet is actually ruled by these microscopic critters, it is actually important that we recognize the tremendous value they serve us.

BlogWork!

Watch the video below and write 5-10 sentences about the importance of the microbe world.