LAB 1: ANIMAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

 Introduction

One of the themes we are going to explore in the course is how structure of animals relate to their function. For example if you examine the structure of the forelimb of a tetrapod (animal with four legs) and the wing of a bird, you find that the anatomy of the structures reflects their function. In today’s lab we are going to use two Phyla of worms to see if we can determine how their structure relates to their function

 Pre-Lab Questions (answer before showing up to lab):   

            1.         What are the names of the Phyla for round worms and segmented worms?

  

            2.         What do organisms from these Phyla eat?

  

            3.         Where do the organisms from these Phyla live?

  

            4.         Do organisms from these Phyla have skeletons, if so, what kind?

  

            5.         How do organism from these Phyla move?

            

            6.         How do organisms from these Phyla reproduce?

 

 Procedure:  

This part of the lab should be fun and is somewhat open-ended. You will be working in teams of two students for this part of the lab. You should have looked up some information about organisms in these two Phyla, now through careful examination you will try to see for yourself if their structure relates to their function

 Start by examining the external and internal structure of preserved and live segmented and round worms. Carefully observe the external and internal structures to see if you can tell how their structure is adapted to what they do (eat, move, reproduce, etc). When you are ready, get a compound microscope and a slide of a cross section of round and segmented worms. Identify structures that relate to the answers of the questions above.

 

Materials:  

Preserved Ascaris and Earthworms

Live Vinegar Eels

Live Earthworms

Dissecting trays and instruments

8 each Slides of earthworm and ascaris (roundworm) cross sections

Compound Microscopes

Dissecting Scopes