Introductory Biology. Concepts and Experiments

Transcription

1 Introductory Biology Concepts and Experiments

2 Lab 1: The Scientific Method Concepts to explore: Testable observations, hypothesis, null hypothesis, experimental approach, variables, and controls. There are no experiments in this lab, as it is an introduction to the scientific method. However, this lab includes several critical thinking activities (scattered throughout the reading) that test student knowledge of the scientific method. No materials are required. Lab 2: Writing a Lab Report (plus 24 hours advance preparation) Concepts to explore: what is a lab report?, parts of a lab report, and how to write a lab report. Experiment 1: Design an Experiment Students design an experiment using their knowledge of the scientific method that tests several factors that influence seed germination. Students then write a formal lab report to present their experimental information. Lab 3: Data Measurement Concepts to explore: The metric system, converting units, and techniques for obtaining accurate measurements. There are no experiments in this lab. However, this lab includes several critical thinking activities that test student knowledge of unit conversion and measuring techniques. Lab 4: Introduction to the Microscope Concepts to explore: Types of microscopes, parts of a microscope, how to use a microscope, preparing a wet mount slide, and depth of field. Experiment 1: Virtual Magnification Exercise Students utilize a simulation to gain a better understanding of magnification and scale. Experiment 2: Virtual Microscope Students utilize a microscope simulation to learn how to use a microscope. This virtual exercise includes a guided tutorial of the microscope and several virtual slides to examine. Lab 5: The Chemistry of Life (plus 24 hours of preparation time) Concepts to explore: Atoms, elements, compounds, chemical bonds, molecules/macromolecules, energy and metabolism, acids and bases, and the effects of surface area and volume.

3 Experiment 1: What Household Substances are Acidic or Basic? Students use ph paper to test a variety of household substances to determine their acidity. Vinegar and sodium bicarbonate are provided as controls. Experiment 2: The Effect of Surface Area and Volume Students prepare agar blocks stained with an acid indicator, place various size/shape blocks into a beaker of vinegar, and examine the effects of surface area to volume ratios on the diffusion of vinegar into the block. Lab 6: Diffusion Concepts to explore: Diffusion, rate of diffusion, direction of diffusion, concentration gradient, membrane permeability, and dialysis. Experiment 1: Diffusion through a Liquid Students observe the diffusion of two dyes of known molecular weights through a viscous medium and calculate the rate of diffusion for each. Experiment 2: Concentration Gradients and Membrane Permeability Utilizing a dialysis bag, students observe the directional movement of glucose and starch through the selectively permeable membrane. Lab 7: Osmosis (plus 3 hours for observation) Concepts to explore: Osmosis, hypertonic, isotonic, and osmotic pressure. Experiment 1: Direction and Concentration Gradients Students investigate the effect of solute concentrations on osmosis using a semi-permeable membrane. Experiment 2: Tonicity and the Plant Cell Students explore the effects of tonicity in a biological system using potatoes. Lab 8: Respiration (plus 2 hours preparation time) Concepts to explore: Cellular energy, respiration, anaerobic respiration, and aerobic respiration. Students investigate rate of respiration in the presence of five carbohydrates, measured by CO 2 production. Experiment 2: Aerobic Respiration in Beans Students evaluate respiration in beans by comparing CO 2 production between germinated and nongerminated beans. Lab 9: Enzymes Concepts to explore: Enzymes, selectivity, catalysts, activation energy, activation site, reaction sites,

4 activators, and inhibitors Experiment 1: Effect of Enzyme Concentration Students investigate the effects of catalase concentration on the amount of oxygen produced by yeast cells mixed with H Experiment 2: Effect of temperature on Enzyme Activity Students study the role of temperature in enzyme function. Experiment 3: Enzymes in Food Students identify foods that contain the enzyme amylase. Lab 10: Cell Structure and Function (plus 24 hours observation time) Concepts to explore: What is a cell?, prokaryotes, eukaryotes, cell structure, and function of cell structures. Experiment 1: Identifying Cell Structures Students identify and label parts of the cell. Experiment 2: Create a Cell Students make models of plant and animal cells and incorporate household items to use as cell structures. Lab 11: Mitosis Concepts to explore: Chromosomes, cell cycle, mitosis, interphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis. Experiment 1: Observation of Mitosis in a Plant Cell Students examine digital slide photos of an onion root tip slide and identify the number of cells in each stage of mitosis Lab 12: Meiosis Concepts to explore: Meiosis, diploid cells, haploid cells, chromosomal crossover. Experiment 1: Following Chromosomal DNA Movement Students use Pop-It beads to simulate the movement of chromosomes through the stages of meiosis. Lab 13: DNA and RNA Time: 2 hours Concepts to explore: DNA structure, nucleotides, amino acids, proteins, genetic code, mutation, RNA, transcription, and translation.

5 Experiment 1: Coding Students use beads to understand how DNA can code for nucleotides. Experiment 2: Transcription and Translation Students use beads to create codons and amino acids. Experiment 3: DNA Extraction Students extract DNA from a piece of soft fruit. Lab 14: Mendelian Genetics Concepts to explore: Gregor mendel, law of segregation, homozygous, heterozygous, independent assortment, dominant vs. recessive, incomplete dominance, co-dominance, genotype, phenotype, monohybrid cross, dihybrid cross, and punnett square. Experiment 1: Punnett Square Crosses Students set up and complete Punnett square crosses, based on their random selection of beads from a beaker (representing genotypes of the parents). Lab 15: Population Genetics Concepts to explore: Gene pool, gene frequency, genetic variation, genetic drift, founder effect, mutation, and natural selection. Experiment 1: Genetic Variation Students randomly select beads from beakers to better understand gene pool, gene frequency, and genetic variation. Experiment 2: Genetic Drift Students use beads in beakers to understand how the gene pool and gene frequency are affected by natural disasters. Experiment 3: Founder Effect Students use beakers with beads to understand the founder effect. Experiment 4: Mutations Students perform critical thinking exercises to understand the probability and effects of genetic mutations. Experiment 5: Natural Selection Students use red and blue beads and red and blue habitats to understand selective advantage the corresponding distribution of phenotypes. Experiment 6: Sickle Cell Anemia Inheritance Patterns Students use beads to study inheritance patterns. Lab 16: Taxonomy Concepts to explore: Taxonomy, Linnaean system, binomial nomenclature, and taxonomic vs. phylogenetic classifications. Experiment 1: Classification of Common Objects

6 In this exercise, students take common objects and group them into taxonomic categories. Experiment 2: Classification of Organisms Students use a decision tree to determine the kingdom of several organisms. Lab 17: Bacteria and Archaea (plus 24 hours preparation time and 7 days observation time) Concepts to explore: Characteristics of prokaryotes, heterotrophic, autotrophic, chemotrophic, cocci, bacilli, spirillia, plasmid, and bacteriophage. Experiment 1: Testing the Environment Students swab and culture bacteria from various environments. Experiment 2: Measuring Antibiotic Resistance Students take a culture plate from the previous experiment and place antibiotic disks in it to measure the zone of resistance for each. Lab 18: Protista Time: 2 hours Concepts to explore: Complexity and diversity, autotrophs, heterotrophs, mixotrophs, unicellular vs. multicellular, filamentous, colony associations, pseudopodia, cilia, flagella, and energy sources. Experiment 1: Viewing Preserved Species of Protists Students view digital slide pictures of Euglena and Paramecium and identify structures on each. Experiment 2: Viewing Live Specimens Students view videos of live specimens with and without a slowing agent. Lab 19: Fungi (plus 3-7 days for observation) Concepts to explore: Phylums, decomposers, saprophytes, hyphae, mycelium, reproduction, spores, dikaryon, and commercial uses. Experiment 1: Growing and Observing Zygomycota Students grow mold on a piece of bread, then examine digital slide pictures of Rhizopus. Experiment 2: Observing Ascomycota Students view digital slide pictures of yeast and Peziza. Lab 20: Energy & Photosynthesis (plus 2 hours preparation time and 3 hours observation time). Concepts to explore: Photosynthesis, light dependent reactions, light independent reactions, chloroplasts, thylakoids, grana, lamella, stroma, and the Calvin cycle. Experiments Experiment 1: Light Dependent Reactions Students measure oxygen production of aquatic plants in water and sodium bicarbonate.

7 Experiment 2: Depletion of Carbon Dioxide Students investigate the conversion of CO 2 to oxygen with the use of an indicator solution and aquatic plants. Lab 21: Plant Circulation (plus 2-3 hours observation time) Concepts to explore: Vascular plants, non-vascular plants, xylem, phloem, transpiration, stomata, and circulation in plants. Experiment 1: Functionality of the Water Column in Plants Students view digital slide pictures of Ranunculus root and Tilia, and then examine how dyed water travels up a piece of celery. Experiment 2: Water Movement in Flowers by Transpiration Students color the petals of a carnation by taking advantage of the process of transpiration. Lab 22: Plant Reproduction Time: 2 hours Concepts to explore: Alternation of generations, unisexual plants, bisexual plants, non-seed vs. seed forming plants, and double fertilization. Experiment 1: Observation of Archegonium and Antheridium Students observe digital slide images of archegonium Mnium moss and antheridium Mnuim moss. Experiment 2: Observation of a Flower Students observe the structures of a lily flower, and then view digital slide pictures of the anther and ovary. Lab 23: Invertebrates & Vertebrates Time: 2 hours Concepts to explore: Characteristics of animals, Heterotrophs, Symmetry, Invertebrates, and vertebrates. Experiment 1: Symmetry in Animals Students identify the type of symmetry possessed by materials in their kits. Experiment 2: Creating a Phylum Key Students organize and identify the characteristics of phyla. Experiment 3: Taxonomy Students identify the phyla of pictures of organisms. OPTIONAL MODULES Experiment 4: Invertebrate Dissection Students dissect a starfish. Experiment 5: Vertebrate Dissection Students dissect a grassfrog.

8 Lab 24: Structure (plus 7 days observation time) Concepts to explore: Tissue, organs, organ systems, integumentary system, skeletal system, and the muscular system. Experiment 1: Examining the Multiple Cell Layers of the Skin Students view digital slide pictures of the skin. Experiment 2: Investigating Compact vs. Spongy bone Students view digital slide pictures of compact and spongy bone. Experiment 3: Calcium in Bones Students examine the effect of heat and acid on the structural integrity of bone. Experiment 4: Muscle Structure Students view digital slide pictures of smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscle. Experiment 5: Agonists and Antagonists Students investigate the muscles that work together to articulate movements of the body. Lab 25: Circulatory & Respiratory System Concepts to explore: Circulatory system, the heart, blood, respiration, and the respiratory system. Experiment 1: Mechanism of Breathing Students explore how changing the volume of the intrapleural space can alter the relative pressure, forcing the lungs to expand or contract. Experiment 2: Breathing Measurements Students measure the circumference of their chest after exhalation and inhalation, and calculate their resting breathing rate. Experiment 3: Observation of Blood Students view digital slide pictures of blood. Lab 26: Nervous & Sensory System Concepts to explore: Nervous system, sensory system, neurons, glial cells, dendrites, axons, synapse, CNS, PNS, ANS, and the Somatic Nervous System. Experiment 1: Observation of a Neuron Students view digital slide pictures of a neuron Experiment 2: Limits and Capabilities of the Eye Students measure the near point and experiment with after images. Experiment 3: Limits and Capabilities of the Skin Students examine which areas of the body are most sensitive. Experiment 4: Brain Mapping Students map out the brain using a swim cap. Lab 27: Ecology of Organisms Time: ½ hour (plus 7 additional days observation time)

9 Concepts to explore: Ecology of organisms and range of tolerance. Experiment 1: Effects of ph on Radish Seed Germination Students examine the effect of ph on the germination and growth of radish seeds to determine the range of ph tolerance for the seeds. Lab 28: Ecological Interactions Time: ½ hour Concepts to explore: Habitat and trophic levels. Experiment 1: Ecological Interactions Students examine first, second, and third trophic levels with an oil and water demonstration.