Steve Vree's List: Biology - Sci Method - Skills - Life

"Have students conduct Internet research on "characteristics of life." Do all sources agree on the characteristics? Are there characteristics not covered in this activity? Do all scientists agree on a common list of "characteristics of life"?
What are the limitations of videos? Discuss which characteristics of life students are unable to identify in the videos. How might they be able to observe these characteristics in select organisms?
If all of the characteristics of life are required to classify something as "alive," how can we account for those individuals who are definitely alive, but that do not reproduce (for example, people without children or a sterile mule)?
Is a virus alive? Ask students to keep in mind the information from this activity, and to conduct Internet research to discover how scientists answer this question."