In the game of life, is it better to be
simple or complex?
The question is up for debate.
• Bacteria are simple organisms that are very successful in propagating the
species.
• On the other hand, humans are very complex organisms that have
redefined the world they live in.
• Simple allows for low cost of replacing organisms.
• Complex allows for organisms to have more capabilities to ensure
survival
Was the blob alive?
Did it met the criteria for being alive?
What were your criteria (for life) this
time, and how did it satisfy them?
Life is considered a characteristic of organisms that
exhibit all or most of the following characteristics or
traits:
•Homeostasis (Regulation of internal environment to
maintain a Constant Steady State):
•Organization:
•Metabolism (Using Energy via chemical reactions):
•Growth and Development:
•Adaptation:
•Response to stimuli:
•Reproduction:
In which domain and kingdom
would you classify the blob?
There are variety of possible options.
• One possibility is Domain Eukaryote, Kingdom Protista.
• The blob in many ways appeared similar to a slime
mold, which is a Protista.
How quickly did it grow?
The blob grew quickly, reaching the size of a building
in one night.
Were its increases in mass
consistent with the masses it
consumed?
The blob didn’t seem to consume enough to become
as big as it did, unless it consumed a lot of material
off camera.
What exactly did it consume, and
what did it not consume?
The blob was only observed consuming humans.
Did it make choices or just eat
everything it touched?
• It appeared to make some kind of choices, as it did
not consume the inorganic matter that it traveled
across.
• It also chose not to consume the dog.
Did it do photosynthesis or was it
strictly heterotrophic?
It appeared to be strictly heterotrophic, consuming
organic substances in order to obtain energy for
metabolism..
Did it feed by ingestion or by
absorption?
It appeared to feed by absorption.
Did it secrete any digestive
enzymes?
It did appear to excrete digestive enzymes when it
tried to consumed its first victim.
Did it produce any wastes?
It was not shown to produce any waste.
Was it unicellular, colonial, or
multicellular?
Since the blob passed through a grated vent and then
reformed, it is most likely that the blob is a colonial
organism.
Did it have differentiated tissues
and organs?
The blob had no differentiated tissues or organs, and
therefore, it was not multicellular.
Were there several or just one?
There appeared to be only one blob, but if the
creature was colonial in nature, it would actually
be a group of organisms living together.
Did it ever reproduce?
As the blob grew larger, it would have to reproduce if
it was a colonial creature, because each new
organism would contribute to the size of the overall
creature.
Did it ever even divide?
Cellular division could have been responsible for the
overall growth of the blob.
Could it separate into smaller units
that then rejoined to form the
whole?
The blob clearly passed through a grate and then
reformed.
What didn’t kill it?
The blob appeared to be immune to physical
attacks, electricity, and fire.
How did the townspeople finally
control it?
The townspeople used CO2 fire extinguishers to
freeze the blob and slow down its metabolism.
Does that make biological sense?
• The blob appears to have entered a dormant state
when it was exposed to extreme cold, due to the
fact that it was unable to maintain homeostasis in
cold environments.
• Some organisms are known for entering a dormant
state during extreme conditions.
Questions
Compiled by: D. Leonard – Learning Specialist
Edited by: T. Lazauski – Peer Tutor
The Academic Support Center @ Daytona State College
http://www.daytonastate.edu/asc/ascsciencehandouts.html