This week we started lab with a DNA extraction! First, we blended split peas with some water and salt – separating the cells in the peas. We then added soap and waited for it to do its work to break down the plasma membrane of the cells to release the DNA. After the soap lysis […]
Category: Lab Summary
Goals for this lab: Understand the purpose and outcome of Mitosis and identify phases of Mitosis (including under the microscope) Understand the purpose and outcome of Meiosis and identify phases of Meiosis Be able to trace chromosomes through both processes Compare and contrast Mitosis and Meiosis Mitosis and Meiosis! For our final lab of this […]
Today we completed the Edible Cell Challenge! Our goal was to create a model of an animal cell, as scientifically accurate as possible, using common pizza toppings. They all successfully incorporated the nucleus, ribosomes, mitochondria, Golgi bodies, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosome, and vacuoles. We even saw a few “extras”, including differentiating between the smooth and rough […]
Today in lab we worked on Experiment 6.1 and 6.2, looking at cell structure, comparing plant and animal cells, and attempting to observe cytoplasmic streaming and plasmolysis. First we observed cork and onion cells under the microscope. The onion cells were stained with iodine, allowing us to more clearly see the nucleus. It was difficult […]
Today in lab we started an enzyme experiment. We had a false start with some crazy quick setting jello, so we started over. We didn’t get to see the results during lab because the final jello didn’t set quickly enough (even though we used the quick set method!). It seems to have worked fine in […]
Today we looked at molds! We had mold growing on strawberries, an orange, and pumpkin muffins. We examined all of our mold samples with the naked eye, with a magnifying glass, and made both dry and wet mount slides to examine under the microscope (Exp. 4.3), and drew observations in the lab notebooks as we went. […]
In lab today we went over some fundamentals of biochemistry! We started out with some “Duplos chemistry”. We talked about atoms, elements, and molecules (including differentiating between compounds and mixtures), then practiced writing chemical formulas. After going over physical changes vs. chemical changes, we talked about photosynthesis. We worked out the chemical reaction of photosynthesis […]
Today we looked at mushrooms and puffballs (thanks to Rosalie, friend of the lab, for contributing samples!). We examined them with the naked eye, with a magnifying glass, and looked at spores and some gills from a mushroom under the microscope (Exp. 4.1). We also observed yeast fermentation and looked at samples under the microscope […]
Today we looked at prepared slides of protozoans (amoeba, paramecium, euglena, volvox) and algae (spirogyra, diatoms), completing experiment 3.2 and 3.3. The focus was on detailed drawing and identifying and labeling the different organelles. They are all getting more handy with the microscopes, and I had them move through their lab notebooks in a more […]
Today we got out the microscopes and looked at our pond cultures one last time. We found a few different things today. Looking at a sample from the soil jar, we saw a circular specimen that we thought was a volvox. It occured to me later that it could have been a centric diatom. I […]