Experiments and Activities You Need To Know How To Describe

The Nature and Variety of Living Organisms

Structures and Functions in Living Organisms

1. Preparation of plant and animal cells (onion and cheek cells for microscope observation)
2. Osmosis in a model cell (Visking tubing – mass)
3. Osmosis in potato cells (potatoes – length)
4. Factors affecting the activity of catalase (raw/boiled/ground liver and hydrogen peroxide – height of froth)
5. What temperature does amylase work best at? (starch suspension, water baths – color of iodine solution)
6. Test for glucose (mixture of food extract and Benedict’s solution in boiling tube in hot water  bath – blue -> yellow/red)
7. Test for starch
8. Measuring the energy values of foods (holding burning food under a boiling tube of water until food is fully burnt – temperature change)

(f) Respiration

1. Respiration in animals and plants (breathing into a tube entering limewater)

(Experiments like this and variations)

(g) Gas exchange in humans

1. Effect of exercise on breathing rate http://www.curriculumonline.ie/en/Post-Primary_Curriculum/Senior_Cycle_Curriculum/Leaving_Certificate_Established/Biology/Biology_Support_Materials/Prescribed_Activities/Detailed_Templates/Investigate_the_effect_of_exercise_on_the_breathing_rate_or_pulse_rate_of_a_human.html

Transport in plants

1. Role of environmental factors in determining the rate of transpiration from a leafy shoot

• effect of wind (distance of fan) – photometer setup
• effect of light (distance of lamp – put a layer of perspex in between) – photometer setup
• effect of humidity (different-sized plastic bags around leaves) – photometer setup

 

Structure of a Villus

Epithelium only one cell thick so that there is short distance for active transport and diffusion

Goblet cell produces mucus which protects gut lining against digestion by body’s own enzymes

Capillary transports glucose (from carbohydrate breakdown) and amino acids (from protein breakdown)

Lacteal transports fatty acids and glycerol (from fat breakdown)

Gland lined with cells which produce digestive enzymes including maltase

Vein delivers absorbed products to the liver via the hepatic portal vein

Artery delivers blood to villi

Experiment proving that exhaled air contains more carbon dioxide than inhaled air

(A, B and C refer to the tubes unless specified)

Close end of B. Breathe in. Air from atmosphere enters through A, passes through limewater and enters your mouth (cannot enter through B because closed).

Open end of B and close end of A. Breathe out. Exhaled air passes through limewater in test tube B and exits through B.

Limewater in test tube B (which contained the air you exhaled) turns milky much faster than in test tube A (which contained the air you inhaled).

Photosynthesis Investigations for Chlorophyll, Carbon Dioxide, Light