Polyphenoloxidase (catechol oxidase) Assay
Browning of the cut surface of some fruits and vegetables is due the presence of a group of enzymes called polyphenoloxidases, released by the broken cells. In this practical, the change from a colourless solution of catechol to coloured benzoquinone is followed with a colorimeter.
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Measuring the rate of photosynthesis
A brief outline of various ways to measure the rate of photosynthesis - including measuring photosynthesis via the uptake of carbon dioxide (e.g. using immobilised algae), via the production of oxygen in pondweed, via the increase in dry mass, and via the production of carbohydrates.
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Investigating Vernalisation & Creating Genetic Crosses
Certain plants require a cold spell in their life cycle to initiate the sequence of events that leads to flowering – known as vernalisation. This sheet describes the process of vernalisation and how it can be done to help induce flowering in Chinese cabbages. You can then use the resultant plants to carry out genetic crosses.
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Bog Core Analysis and Climate Change
This activity looks at the change in vegetation in a location in Norfolk between c. 12,000 years before present and 2,000 years BP.
Students carry out a simulation of a bog core analysis, and use the resulting data to think about either climate change (14-16 students) or succession and climate change (post-16 students)
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Pollen and other Airborne Particles
Construct your own school pollen trap to isolate and identify the pollen and other airborne particles that contribute to respiratory illness
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Photosynthesis - A Survival Guide for Teachers
Struggling to teach photosynthesis and keep it fresh? This resource collection includes Powerpoints, practical activities and student worksheets for KS3 (11-14) helps teachers take a new and refreshing look at photosynthesis.
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Protoplast Isolation
Protoplasts (cells which have had their cell wall removed) can be isolated from a range of plant tissues. This resource introduces protoplasts and gives a technique for isolating them.
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The SAPS ELISA kit for Botrytis
The SAPS ELISA kit for Botrytis has been developed as a low cost way to bring practical immunology into the classroom, including equipment, the necessary antibodies, the substrate and a Botrytis culture
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Plants Fight Back: an article for post-16 students
When a plant is attacked by pests or diseases, plant cells on the front line switch on defence-related genes to make those cells more toxics and physically stronger. This article is written specifically for post-16 students, and includes teachers' notes.
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Investigating transpiration with a potometer
In this practical experiment, students look at how at potometer can be used to measure factors affecting transpiration rates, and develop investigations to compare the transpiration rates under different circumstances.
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Photosynthesis and leaf adaptation: how sun and shade plants respond to light
In this interesting practical investigations, students look at the rate of photosynthesis in plants from different habitats, and then consider what this demonstrates about adaptation.
Leaf discs taken from sun and shade plants are immersed in a sodium hydrogen carbonate solution and exposed to either white or green light. The oxygen produced by photosynthesis causes the leaves to float. The time the leaves take to float can thus be used as an indirect measure of the rate of photosynthesis.
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