The students conducted an experiment to determine if an unknown specimen was alive by observing its growth, ability to adapt to environmental changes, and production of carbon dioxide. They found that the specimen grew in different environments, produced carbon dioxide which changed the color of bromothymol blue, and had cells visible under a microscope. This led them to conclude the unknown specimen was alive.

1. UNKNOWN SPECIMEN:
IS IT ALIVE?
SUKI, MARK, NIARA, AND LUIS

2. WHAT QUESTIONS DID THE
EXPERIMENT ANSWER?
• Will the unknown grow?
• Will the unknown adapt to a significant change in
environment?
• Does the unknown produce CO2?
• Is the unknown made of cells?

3. WILL THE UNKNOWN GROW? WILL IT ADAPT
TO A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN
ENVIRONMENT?
• 2 test tubes
• Salt water and Fresh Water
• Three Plastic Cups
• Soil, Sand, Control

4. DOES THE UNKNOWN PRODUCE CO2?
• Bromothymol Blue
• Water Color: changed from blue to a yellowish color
• Conclusion: It is producing CO2.

5. IS THE UNKNOWN MADE OF CELLS?
• Observed it under a microscope
• Saw cell walls
• Conclusion: It has cells.

6. RESULTS: WILL THE UNKNOWN GROW?
• Yes. In all new environments, the unknown did show
growth and changes.

7. FRESHWATER TEST TUBE
• 1st Look: the some of the unknown had begun to sprout
what appeared to be a root and the water had turned to a
pale yellow, indicated the presence of carbon dioxide.
• 2nd Look: nearly all of the unknown had sprouted and the
water’s shade had darkened.

8. SALTWATER TEST TUBE
-1st Look: the unknown had begun to sprout roots,
although noticeably smaller than the freshwater
sample. Also the water’s shade of yellow was not as
dark as the freshwater sample.
-2nd Look: the unknown’s roots had grown a little,
more. Very few changes were noticeable.

9. WHAT TOOLS OTHER THAN THE
MICROSCOPE DID YOU LEARN HOW TO
USE?
• Wet Mount/Stain
• Bromothymol blue

10. OUR UNKNOWN IS ALIVE!
•

11. DID YOU LEARN ANY INFORMATION
THAT HELPED YOU ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION?
• CO₂ and the bromothymol blue.
• What do cells look like?
• Did some research, found what plant cells and animals cells
look like.

12. WHAT QUESTIONS REMAIN
UNANSWERED?
• What kind of plant is it?
• Will it reproduce?
• Too short of a time to tell if it will reproduce, but we
hypothesize that it will.