Published experiments

Here you will find a complete list of all the practicals and standard techniques published on the site so far. This will be continually added to as more and more practicals are produced.

Introductory
Contains practical ideas for students beginning a scientific study of biology. Students will be at different ages in different countries. In the UK, they are likely to be aged 11 to 13.

Intermediate
These practicals are for students who already understand some central biological concepts. Students’ ages will vary in different countries. In the UK they are likely to be aged 14 to 16.

Advanced
These practicals are for those already experienced in biological science. Student ages will vary in different countries. In the UK they are likely to be aged 17 to 19 and to be studying for A-levels, Highers or the International Baccalaureat.

Enhancement
These ideas are for biology clubs, or to demonstrate interesting effects that may be ‘off spec’ or outside the curriculum.

Experiments	Standard Techniques
A closer look at blood A model for natural selection - spaghetti worms A simple model for natural selection A quantitative food test A window on the past: measuring stomatal density An enzyme-catalysed synthesis Assessing skin sensitivity 1 - locating different receptors Assessing skin sensitivity 2 - temperature receptors Assessing skin sensitivity 3 - touch discrimination Biodiversity in your backyard Brine date Changes in earthworm responsiveness Cloning a living organism Comparing the flower structure of different angiosperms Digestion of starch by microbes Digestion of protein by microbes Dissecting lungs Dissection of the ventilation system of a locust Effect of size on uptake by diffusion Elastic recoil in arteries and veins Estimating rate of transpiration from a plant cutting Evaluating methods of pest control Evaluating Visking tubing as a model for a gut Extracting DNA from living things Extracting fibres from plants Following gene transfer by conjugation in bacteria Gene induction: β-galactosidase in E. coli Going up in smoke Hazards of defrosted food How do plants and animals change the environment around them? How good is your toilet paper How much energy is there in food? Identifying the conditions needed for photosynthesis Interpreting information about sweating and temperature Investigating an enzyme-controlled reaction: catalase and hydrogen peroxide concentration Investigating antimicrobial action Investigating factors affecting Daphnia heart rate Investigating factors affecting the breathing rate of a locust Investigating factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis Investigating how we see colour Investigating mitosis in allium root tip squash Investigating osmosis in chickens’ eggs Investigating photosynthesis using immobilised algae Investigating the effect of amylase on a starchy foodstuff Investigating the effect of concentration of blackcurrant squash on osmosis in chipped potatoes Investigating the effect of concentration on the activity of trypsin Investigating the effect of pH on amylase activity Investigating the effect of temperature on plant cell membranes Investigating the effect of temperature on the activity of lipase Investigating the effects of biochar on soil fertility Investigating the light dependent reaction in photosynthesis Investigating the response of Calliphora larvae to light Investigating the response of worms to soil improvers Investigating transport systems in a flowering plant Investigating what makes fruit go brown Looking at a heart Making Reebops: a model for meiosis Measuring rate of water uptake by a plant shoot using a potometer Measuring reaction time of a human reflex action Measuring respiratory quotient Measuring the rate of metabolism Measuring the Vitamin C content of foods and fruit juices Microbes are all around us Microbes ate my homework Microscale investigations of catalase activity in plant extracts Modelling effect of aspirin on blood clots Modelling the human ventilation system Modelling the sliding filament hypothesis Monitoring water pollution with invertebrate indicator species Movement of seed beetles Nitrogen-fixing bacteria free-living in the soil Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules of leguminous plants No stomach for it: investigating antacid medication Observing blood circulation in Asellus Observing earthworm locomotion Observing osmosis, plasmolysis and turgor in plant cells Observing patterns in the distribution of a simple plant Observing protoctista in water using the hanging drop technique Observing the effects of exercise on the human body Observing the growth of pollen tubes Observing water moving through plants Practice makes perfect? Preparing an anther squash Preserving food Recording variation in ivy leaves Selection in action - banded snails Structure of synovial joint with tendons and ligaments The vertebrate heart in action Tracking active uptake of minerals by plant roots Using a choice chamber to investigate animal responses to stimuli Using a spirometer to investigate human lung function Working with immobilised enzymes or microscopic organisms	Aseptic techniques Incubating and viewing plates Maintaining and preparing cultures of bacteria and yeasts Making a calibration curve for starch concentration Making a pour plate Making a spread or 'lawn' plate Making a streak plate Making serial dilutions Making up nutrient agars Pouring an agar plate Testing leaves for starch: the technique

Experiments

Standard Techniques

A closer look at blood
A model for natural selection - spaghetti worms
A simple model for natural selection
A quantitative food test
A window on the past: measuring stomatal density
An enzyme-catalysed synthesis
Assessing skin sensitivity 1 - locating different receptors
Assessing skin sensitivity 2 - temperature receptors
Assessing skin sensitivity 3 - touch discrimination

Biodiversity in your backyard
Brine date

Changes in earthworm responsiveness
Cloning a living organism
Comparing the flower structure of different angiosperms

Digestion of starch by microbes
Digestion of protein by microbes
Dissecting lungs
Dissection of the ventilation system of a locust

Effect of size on uptake by diffusion
Elastic recoil in arteries and veins
Estimating rate of transpiration from a plant cutting
Evaluating methods of pest control
Evaluating Visking tubing as a model for a gut
Extracting DNA from living things
Extracting fibres from plants

Following gene transfer by conjugation in bacteria

Gene induction: β-galactosidase in E. coli
Going up in smoke

Hazards of defrosted food
How do plants and animals change the environment around them?
How good is your toilet paper
How much energy is there in food?

Identifying the conditions needed for photosynthesis
Interpreting information about sweating and temperature
Investigating an enzyme-controlled reaction: catalase and hydrogen peroxide concentration
Investigating antimicrobial action
Investigating factors affecting Daphnia heart rate
Investigating factors affecting the breathing rate of a locust
Investigating factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis
Investigating how we see colour
Investigating mitosis in allium root tip squash
Investigating osmosis in chickens’ eggs
Investigating photosynthesis using immobilised algae
Investigating the effect of amylase on a starchy foodstuff
Investigating the effect of concentration of blackcurrant squash on osmosis in chipped potatoes
Investigating the effect of concentration on the activity of trypsin
Investigating the effect of pH on amylase activity
Investigating the effect of temperature on plant cell membranes
Investigating the effect of temperature on the activity of lipase
Investigating the effects of biochar on soil fertility
Investigating the light dependent reaction in photosynthesis
Investigating the response of Calliphora larvae to light
Investigating the response of worms to soil improvers
Investigating transport systems in a flowering plant
Investigating what makes fruit go brown