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Investigations in post-16 biology
These reliable practicals from SAPs allow students to practice a range of skills, such as microscopy skills, serial dilutions, plotting and using standard curves and developing mathematical skills. These investigations were designed for students following a Scottish Highers course but they are equally useful for other post-16 courses in biology. Some could even be adapted for secondary students of a younger age.
The investigations include:
- Investigating the hormone auxin (IAA), a plant growth regulator
- Fruit juice production and enzyme recovery
- What determines the number of spines on a holly leaf?
- The effect of phosphate on the enzyme phosphatase
- Stomatal opening and closing in commelina communis
- The response of leaf discs to green light
- The effects of IAA on root growth
- Competitive and non-competitive enzyme inhibition
- Estimating the glucose concentration of a solution
- The effects of mineral concentrations on plant growth
- Investigating potato cyst nematodes
- Examining mycorrhizae
- Protoplast isolation
- Investigation enzymes: microscale investigations with catalase
- Investigating enzymes: inhibition of catechol oxidase in bananas
- Investigating enzymes: phosphatase enzymes in plants
- Investigations into eutrophication
Resources
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Protoplast isolation
This protocol describes the process of isolating protoplasts from plant cells and then fusing the protoplasts in order to carry out further investigations.
Plants from distantly related or unrelated species are unable to reproduce sexually as their genomes are incompatible. Protoplasts from unrelated...
Investigating enzymes: inhibition of catechol oxidase in bananas
One of a series of resources from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. In this practical, student investigate how lead inhibits catechol oxidase, an enzyme which is easily extracted from a banana and which is responsible for turning fruit brown. Measuring the intensity...
Investigating enzymes: phosphatase enzymes in plants
One of a series of resources from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. A standard protocol which is used to extract phosphatase enzymes from plants, including a method to calculate the rate of reaction. Phosphatases are enzymes widespread in plants easily extracted from...
Investigating enzymes: microscale investigations with catalase
One of a series of resources from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. A simple yet accurate protocol looking at the results of the enzyme catalase. Catalase is a widespread enzyme, protecting the cell from toxic effects of hydrogen peroxide by catalysing its...