The Undying Hydra: A Freshwater Mini-Monster That Defies Aging
From Deep Look
5 min3rd4th5th6thScience
Summary
The hydra is a tiny pond animal that seems to never grow old -- it constantly rebuilds its own body from fresh cells. Deep Look shows how it grows new buds that break off to become whole new hydras.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
A hydra's body is always replacing its cells, so it doesn't age the way we do. It can grow a little bud on its side that becomes a complete new hydra and breaks away -- growth and reproduction rolled into one simple animal.
- How does a hydra make a brand-new hydra?
- Why does a hydra seem to never get old?
- How is budding different from hatching from an egg?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: hydra, bud, regenerate, life cycle.
Try it: Draw a hydra with a small bud on its side, then draw the bud as its own animal. Write how budding makes a new hydra.