The

Wonders of Life Narrated by Dr Brian Cox

Episode 1 What is Life?

1. Use your MR N GREWW chart to check off the characteristics of life discussed in this story.
2. Write an example of each requirement and function of organisms.


3. List the types of energy discussed (at about 10 minutes).
4. Describe these types of energy.
5. State the law of conservation of energy, or the Third Law of Thermodynamics (at 13 minutes).


6. How old is the Universe? (at about 14 minutes).
7. When did our solar system form?
8. Name the unit of energy measurement.
9. What form of energy from the sun is important to life on earth?
10. How long ago was it that life began on planet earth? (15 minutes)


11. Describe how the pH of water changes due to volcanoes. (18-19 minutes)
12. Describe how the pH of water changes due basic rock minerals dissolving in water. (20 minutes)
13. In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, on Mid-Ocean Ridges there are conditions necessary for the
start of life on earth. (22 minutes).
a. List these conditions.
b. Classify these requirements as either energy or materials.


14. Name the special structure that helps convert energy into a useable form for all living things. All
organisms have these special structures inside their cells (26 minutes).


15. Some living things have evolved to capture some energy from the sun.
a. Name the kingdoms that capture light energy and convert it to a form of energy that
may be used by organisms.
b. There is a special structure inside the cells of the members of these kingdoms that
capture light energy. Name this structure.


16. Find the meaning of the word "paradox". (34 minutes)
17. The Laws of physics tell us that energy is transformed eventually to heat, which is a disordered
form of energy. Do organisms obey this Second Law of Thermodynamics? (35 - 40 minutes)
18. If organisms lose energy as heat explain how organisms replace their energy.


19. Name the molecule that passes genetic information to the next generation.
20. Explain where this fits on the MR N GREWW chart.
21. Explain the significance of this molecule to answer the question What is Life?