Can You Grow Your Own Protists?
Chapter 15: Protists

In the early 1670s, van Leeuwenhoek observed microscopic organisms in pond water. Protists can live nearly everywhere on earth where there is moisture. You can "grow" and observe your own protists if you…

Try This

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1. Collect some mud, dry grass clippings, water (from a source other than the faucet), and decaying leaves or other decaying matter.
2. Put your collection in a glass jar. Add bottled (not tap) water until the jar is about two-thirds full.
3. Let the jar stand several days in indirect sunlight. Note differences in color, odor, and clarity. View the contents of your jar under a microscope.

Analyze Your Results

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1. What changes did you observe over time in your jar of material?
2. If the changes you observed indicated the presence of protozoa, what were their sources?

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