Welcome! Here you will find copies of most of the labs that we perform in class. Some are only available from the AP Lab book, so I cannot post those online.
Scientific Method
- Seed Germination
A simple lab teaching the process of scientific inquiry by studying factors affectng germination of lentil seeds.
- Animal Behavior: Aggressive Display in Betta
Learning the process of scientific inquiry by studying the behavior of Siamese Fighting Fish
- Animal Behavior: Food Preferences of Slugs
Students design & carry out their own experiment to test a slug's preference between two or more food sources. This exercise uses slugs to teach the difference between observation and opinion and introduces the concepts of controls & hypothesis testing.
Cells
- Cell Membranes
A kinesthetic activity that allows students to be creative in building their own models of cell membranes.
- Diffusion and Osmosis
This is an alternative to the AP Diffusion and Osmosis lab. The explanation has been simplified and the summary questions have been expanded.
- Cell Races
A fun lab that vividly demonstrates the relationship between surface area, volume and diffusion time.
Enzymes & Metabolism
- Enzyme Catalysis Alternative 1
This is an alternative to the AP Enzyme Catalysis lab. The technique is much easier for the students to use and gets better results.
- Enzyme Catalysis Alternative 2
This is another alternative to the AP Enzyme Catalysis lab. The technique is even easier than Alternative 1. This is the lab that I use now.
- Properties of Proteins: Kitchen Chemistry
aka "Cooking with Milk & Eggs"... Brief real-life exercise in effects of pH & temperature on protein structure... and it tastes good too!
- Properties of Enzymes: The Effect of Lactaid on Milk
An instructive lab in both enzyme chemistry and scientific method. Students are given a series of supplies and are asked to design an experiment to test the effect of Lactaid on milk.
- Pineapple Enzymes & JELL-O Molds
Another in the series of Kitchen Chemistry labs to teach about the properties of proteins & enzymes.
- Toothpickase
A brief activity that illustrates the effect of substrate concentration & temperature on enzyme function.
Nervous System
- Anatomy of The Human Brain
Otherwise known as "The Brain Cap Lab." In this exercise you will map the human brain -- both anatomy and function -- so that you can develop a more accurate picture of what's going on inside your head :-)
Genetics
Molecular Biology & Biotechnology
- Restriction Enzyme Digest Simulation
Use the power of a word processing program to simulate the action of restriction enzymes on the actual lambda phage DNA sequence.
- Cloning a Paper Plasmid
A nice quick paper demo on the process of cloning a gene into a plasmid using a simulation of the puc18 plasmid & the Jellyfish Glo gene sequence.
- Sanger Sequencing
Sequencing is easier to understand when you can see it in action rather than when you hear it explained in words. This is a great simulation using colored beads.
- Human Genome Scavenger Hunt
Find your way around the human genome and learn how to use the UCSC Genome Browser -- a genome search tool that many researchers use.
- Sickle Cell Bioinformatics
Design a DNA probe to diagnose carriers of Sickle Cell Anemia. Uses UCSC Genome Browser and Primer3 primer design websites. Review of genetic disease, recessive inheritance, circulatory system physiology.
Evolution
- Natural Selection
An enjoyable and educational simulation of natural selection through a game of predator and prey in camouflaged butterfly populations.
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