Student Sheet 9 - Growing Radishes in Film Cans
Radishes provide a cheap and reliable way to carry out a number of investigations into plants, including nutrient requirements, effects of growing conditions, etc. This protocol outlines a simple method of growing radishes that can be used in the school lab.
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Student Sheet 10 - Thin Layer Chromatography for Photosynthetic Pigments
Several different pigments are involved in the absorption of light. This reliable and enjoyable practical shows how these plant pigments can be extracted and then separated using thin layer chromatography (TLC). A low-cost method to get the most out of TLC sheets, including the opportunity to identify the pigments involved using Rf values.
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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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