Extremophiles
Initial Publication Date: October 23, 2012
Summary
This learning module and related laboratory exercise exposes students to extremophiles, their habitats, and the potential to find habitable environments on Mars.
Learning Goals
Students will be able to:
- Understand the environment in which the Tardigrade can survive.
- Explore hydrothermal environments on Earth and Mars.
Context for Use
This learning module is meant for adaptation in an introductory earth science course and/or planetary science course.
Description and Teaching Materials
Compiled In-Class Activities and Homework
- Instructor Version (Acrobat (PDF) 693kB Nov21 16)
- Student Version (Acrobat (PDF) 637kB Nov20 16)
In-Class Activity
- In-Class Activity 1: Tardigrades: Living Extremely
- Student Version (Acrobat (PDF) 517kB Nov20 16); Instructor Version (Acrobat (PDF) 577kB Nov20 16)
Homework/Lab
- Homework 1: Sea Monkey Experiment
- Student Version (Acrobat (PDF) 505kB Nov20 16); Instructor Version (Acrobat (PDF) 571kB Nov20 16)
- Instructions for growing brine shrimp (Acrobat (PDF) 96kB Mar2 16)
- Homework 2: The Color of Temperature
- Student Version (Acrobat (PDF) 586kB Nov20 16); Instructor Version (Acrobat (PDF) 664kB Nov20 16)
Teaching Notes and Tips
- Students must be familiar with Mars environments of deposition, surface processes and climate.
- To be successful in Homework 2 students need to have exposure and instruction in making contour maps.
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Assessment
Each In-Class Activity and Homework has its own measure of Assessment.
References and Resources
- Image File: Extremophiles (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 3.9MB Oct23 12)
- Gale Crater Habitability via Curiosity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHLbXTOaw7w&feature=relmfu
- Tardigrades video from SciShow on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H0E77TdYnY&continue_action=r7OE3bLJMHT8fAwevwnX9Oh_0zzl6Ajt2P3129QN588gcYR6MkEN_obkOAtaq5MUvFV4Yiq09ljbJDp8wedzPE1U417RionrJuPdT2CAALc=
- Lesson 19: Brine Shrimp Video (mp4) (MP4 Video 6MB Oct31 12)