Experimental work in biology: Biology experiments to download
Beneath the description of each experiment you will find links from which you can open or download the experiments in Word format, and a link from which you can download the group of documents in a zip file. To download files right click the link and select 'Save Target As...' (Internet Explorer) or 'Save Link As...' (Firefox). If you do not have Microsoft Word installed you can download Word Viewer free here. If you do not have WinZip installed you can download a free trial here. To download whole sets of experiments in zip files see the links to the right. |
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Food tests1 Test for starchUsing iodine solutionDownloads Reagent for food tests and enzymes 1. Test for starch 2 Test for glucoseUsing Benedict’s reagentDownload 2. Test for glucose 3 Test for proteinThe biuret reactionDownload 3. Test for protein 4 Test for lipidThe emulsion testDownload 4. Test for fats 5 How sensitive is the starch test?A serial dilution of starch solution is tested with iodineDownloads 6 Testing food for starchSamples of different foods are tested with iodine solutionDownloads 7 A comparison of vitamin C contentThe volumes of fruit juices needed to decolourise DCPIP are measuredDownloads Enzymes1 Effect of amylase on starchDisappearance of blue colour from starch solution plus iodine Downloads 2 Effect of temperatureTiming the disappearance of the blue colour at different temperaturesDownloads 3 Effect of pHTiming the disappearance of blue colour at different pH valuesDownloads 4 CatalaseLiver and yeast are used to decompose hydrogen peroxideDownloads 5 Effect of enzyme concentrationIncreasing strengths of urease are used to produce ammonia from ureaDownloads 6 Enzymes in maize fruitsMaize fruits are sectioned and placed on starch-agar. Iodine solution reveals clear areas of starch-agar under the fruitDownloads Respiration1 Oxygen uptakeThe inability of air from germinating seeds to support combustionDownloads 2 Carbon dioxide outputThe gas from germinating seeds turns limewater milkyDownloads 3 Exhaled air (1)The last fraction of exhaled air will not support combustionDownloads 4 Exhaled air (2)Atmospheric air and exhaled air are bubbled simultaneously through limewaterDownloads 5 Respiration in living organismsA manometer reveals uptake of oxygen by germinating seedsDownloads 6 Anaerobic respirationThe gas produced by a yeast suspension from which air is excluded turns limewater milkyDownloads 7 Energy release during respirationGerminating wheat is packed into vacuum flasks to see if there is any rise in temperature over a few daysDownloads 8 Changes in mass during germinationWheat is germinated for about two weeks. Samples are taken at 2-day intervals, dried and weighedDownloads 9 Measuring the uptake of oxygenThe respirometer is used to measure the uptake of oxygen in living organismsDownloads 10 Temperature effect on respirationThe oxygen uptake of living organisms at different temperatures is measured with the respirometerDownloads 11 Oxygen uptake in blowfly larvaeThe oxygen uptake of blowfly larvae is measured over a 20 minute period. The air in the respirometer is then renewed and the rate of oxygen uptake comparedDownloads 12 The effect of temperature on fermentation rateThe respirometer is used to measure the rate of carbon dioxide production from a suspension of yeast in glucose solution at different temperaturesDownloads PhotosynthesisIntroduction to experiments on Photosynthesis1 Production of gas by pondweedBubbles escape from the cut stems of Canadian pondweed when illuminatedDownloads 2 Testing a leaf for starchThe technique of killing and decolourising a leaf and testing it with iodine solutionDownloads 3 The need for lightLight is excluded from part of a leaf which is tested for starch after a period of illuminationDownloads 4 The need for chlorophyllA variegated leaf is tested for starch after a period of illuminationDownloads 5 The need for carbon dioxideA potted plant is enclosed in a plastic bag from which carbon dioxide has been absorbed.one of its leaves is tested for starch after a period of illuminationDownloads 6 Collecting the gas from pondweedThe cut end of a Canadian pondweed shoot is placed in a water-filled test tube. The gas is collected and tested for oxygenDownloads 7 Gaseous exchange in leavesLeaves are enclosed in test-tubes containing hydrogencarbonate indicator. The tubes are illuminated or darkenedDownloads 8 Gaseous exchange in pond-weedLeaves are enclosed in test-tubes containing hydrogencarbonate indicator. The tubes are illuminated or darkenedDownloads 9 The need for mineral elementsWheat seedlings are grown for two weeks in water cultures lacking essential elementsDownloads Diffusion1 Diffusion in gasesDiffusion of ammonia is observed in a glass tube using litmus paperDownloads 2 Diffusion in liquidDiffusion of methylene blue through gelatine is observedDownloads 3 Diffusion and sizeDifferent size blocks of gelatine mixed with cresol red are immersed in acid to see the progress of the acid through the gelatineDownloads 4 Diffusion through a membraneA dialysis tube filled with starch solution is immersed in iodine solutionDownloads 5 Control of diffusionBeetroot discs are heated at increasing temperatures to illustrate the control on diffusion by the cell membraneDownloads 6 Two-way diffusionAmmonia diffuses into gelatine coloured with cresol red which diffuses in the opposite directionDownloads Osmosis1 OsmosisAn osmometer made from dialysis tubing and a capillary tube shows osmosis happeningDownloads 2 Selective permeabilityDialysis tubing containing starch and glucose solutions is immersed in waterDownloads 3 TurgorA length of dialysis tube is partly filled with a syrup solution and immersed in waterDownloads 4 Turgor in plant tissueStrips of dandelion stalk are immersed in salt solutions of differing strength and changes in curvature observedDownloads 5 Turgor in potato tissueCylinders of potato tissue are immersed in solutions of differing strength and changes in length are measuredDownloads 6 Root pressureGlass tubes are fitted to the cut branches of a potted plant. The levels of liquid in each tube are observedDownloads 7 Stomatal movementsLeaf epidermis is irrigated with salt solution to see its effect on guard cellsDownloads 8 PlasmolysisRed epidermis from rhubarb petiole is irrigated with sucrose solution and observed under the microscopeDownloads 9 Surface area and osmosisPotato cubes with equal volume but different surface area are immersed in water and weighedDownloads |
Human senses1 Reaction timeThe distance a vertical ruler falls before being gripped is converted to a time intervalDownloads 2a The blind spot (1)A dot seems to disappear when its image falls on the blind spot2b The blind spot (2)A gap in a line is 'filled in' when its image falls on the blind spotDownloads 3 Inversion of the imageWhen a pin is viewed via a pinhole in front of the pin, its image appears to be invertedDownloads 4a The iris diaphragm (1)The iris is observed to reduce the size of the pupil when the eye is exposed to light4b The iris diaphragm (2)(Broca's pupillometer) A pattern of pinholes appears to change when one eye is exposed to lightDownloads 5 Retinal capillariesBy moving a pinhole about in front of the eye, an image of retinal capillaries appearsDownloads 6a Binocular vision: eye dominanceA pencil lined up with a window frame appears to 'jump' when the dominant eye is closed6b Binocular vision: double visionSlight pressure on one eyeball causes a single object to appear as a double imageDownloads 7 Judgement of distanceThe space sequence of coloured pinheads is judged using either one or both eyesDownloads 8 Eye and hand co-ordinationA star pattern is traced while looking in a mirrorDownloads 9 PerceptionTwo shapes are observed, and demonstrate that the brain makes an interpretation of the imageDownloads 10 Sensitivity of the skin to touchDifferent areas of skin are tested with light touch to see if there are differences in reponseDownloads 11 Recognition of separate stimuli(Spatial discrimination) Different areas of skin are tested with a 'hairpin' to see if they can discriminate a double touch from a single touchDownloads 12 Sensitivity to temperatureOne finger is placed in hot water and another in cold water. Both are then placed in warm water and the sensations comparedDownloads 13 Location of stimuliA marble is rolled between crossed fingers to give the sensation of two marblesDownloads Transport in plants1 Uptake and evaporation in leavesThe uptake of water by single leaves is measured after coating either, neither or both surfaces with VaselineDownloads 2 Uptake of water by shootsThe uptake of water by a shoot is measured, using a potometerDownloads 3 Rates of transpirationThe potometer is used in different conditions to compare rates of uptake by the shootDownloads 4 Rate of transpiration and water uptakeBy weighing the shoot and potometer, the uptake and loss of water are comparedDownloads 5 Uptake of water by an uprooted plantThe potometer is modified to accept a whole plant rather than a cut shootDownloads 6 Conditions affecting evaporationA simple atmometer is used to investigate the effects of different atmospheric conditions on the rate of evaporationDownloads 7 Water tension in the stemThe lower end of the potometer is placed in mercury, which is pulled up the capillary by the transpiration forceDownloads 8 Pathways for gases in a leafA leaf is immersed in hot water to expand and force out any air inside itDownloads 9 Evaporation from the leaf surfaceEvaporation from the upper and lower leaf surface is compared and correlated with the distribution of stomataDownloads 10 To collect and identify the product of transpirationThe shoot of a plant is enclosed in a plastic bag. The liquid which condenses is identifiedDownloads 11 To trace the path of water through a shootShoots are placed in a dye in order to investigate the route it takes through the stem and leavesDownloads 12 Conducting pathways through the shootA syringe is used to force air through a shoot held under water, Air bubbles show the continuity of the vesselsDownloads 13 Measuring the transpiration rate of a potted plantTwo potted plants, one in sunlight and one in shadow are weighed at intervalsDownloads 14 Measuring the transpiration rate of an uprooted plantTwo flasks of water are weighed at intervals. One of them contains a plantDownloads Germination and tropismsIntroductionDownloads 1 The need for oxygenCress seeds are sown on moist cotton wool in 2 flasks one of which contains pyrogallic acid and sodium hydroxideDownloads 2 Effect of temperatureMaize fruits are germinated in moist blotting paper at different temperaturesDownloads 3 The need for waterSeeds are left in moist, dry and waterlogged conditions for a weekDownloads 4 The role of cotyledonsRunner bean embryos attached to varying amounts of cotyledon are germinated on moist blotting paper in jarsDownloads 5 Use of food reserves in germinationColeoptiles and endosperm of cereal seedlings and grains are tested for starch and sugarDownloads 6 Geotropism in radiclesPea seedlings are pinned to a clinostat, or a stationary base, with their radicles horizontalDownloads 7 The region of growth and response in radiclesRadicles are marked with equidistant lines and left horizontally or vertically for two daysDownloads 8 Region of detection and response to one-sided gravity in radiclesDifferent lengths of root tip are excised to see if the radicles still grow and respond to gravityDownloads 9 The effect of one-sided lighting on shootsHypocotyls of sunflower seedlings are marked and illuminated from one sideDownloads 10 The effect of one-sided lighting on cress seedlingsCress seedlings, some of which are decapitated, are illuminated from the side or from aboveDownloads 11 The region of detection and response to one-sided lighting in coleoptilesColeoptiles of wheat seedlings, some covered by foil caps, some decapitated, are illuminated from the sideDownloads 12 Effect of indoleacetic acid on coleoptilesIndoleacetic acid in lanolin is applied to intact coleoptiles. A control is conducted with plain lanolinDownloads 13 The effect of indoleacetic acid on wheat coleoptilesThe tips of the coleoptiles of wheat seedlings are removed and IAA in lanolin applied. Controls are conducted with plain lanolin, untreated cut coleoptiles and intact coleoptilesDownloads 14 Effect of indoleacetic acid on maize coleoptilesIndoleacetic acid in lanolin is applied to one side of a maize coleoptile. A control with plain lanolin is includedDownloads 15 The effect of light on shootsPea seedlings are grown for a week in light or darkness and their shoots comparedDownloads 16 Respiratory activity in maize seedlingsMaize grains and seedlings are immersed in tetrazolium chloride solution for 30 minutesDownloads |
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