A level biology core practicals

AQA Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction

AQA Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; setup and use of an optical microscope to identify the stages of mitosis in these stained squashes and calculation of a mitotic index

AQA Production of a dilution series of a solute to produce a calibration curve with which to identify the water potential of plant tissue

AQA Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the permeability of cell-surface membranes

AQA Dissection of animal or plant gas exchange system or mass transport system or of organ within such a system

AQA Use of aseptic techniques to investigate the effect of antimicrobial substances on microbial growth

AQA Use of chromatography to investigate the pigments isolated from leaves of different plants, eg leaves from shade-tolerant and shade intolerant plants or leaves of different colours

AQA Investigation into the effect of a named factor on the rate of dehydrogenase activity in extracts of chloroplasts

AQA Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of respiration of cultures of single-celled organisms

AQA Investigation into the effect of an environmental variable on the movement of an animal using either a choice chamber or a maze

AQA Production of a dilution series of a glucose solution and use of colorimetric techniques to produce a calibration curve with which to identify the concentration of glucose in an unknown ‘urine’ AQA Investigation into the effect of a named environmental factor on the distribution of a given species

Edexcel A Investigate the effect of caffeine on heart rate in daphnia.

Edexcel A Discuss the potential ethical issues regarding the use of invertebrates in research.

Edexcel A Investigate the vitamin C content of food and drink.

Edexcel A Investigate membrane structure, including the effect of alcohol concentration or temperature on membrane permeability.

Edexcel A Investigate the effect of enzyme and substrate concentrations on the initial rates of reactions.

Edexcel A Prepare and stain a root tip squash to observe the stages of mitosis.

Edexcel A Identify sclerenchyma fibres, phloem sieve tubes and xylem vessels and their location within stems through a light microscope.

Edexcel A Investigate plant mineral deficiencies.

Edexcel A Determine the tensile strength of plant fibres.

Edexcel A Investigate the antimicrobial properties of plants, including aseptic techniques for the safe handling of bacteria.

Edexcel A Carry out a study on the ecology of a habitat, such as using quadrats and transects to determine distribution and abundance of organisms, and measuring abiotic factors appropriate to the habitat.

Edexcel A Investigate photosynthesis using isolated chloroplasts (the Hill reaction).

Edexcel A Investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction, to include Q10.

Edexcel A Investigate the effects of temperature on the development of organisms (such as seedling growth rate, brine shrimp hatch rates).

Edexcel A Use gel electrophoresis to separate DNA fragments of different length.

Edexcel A Investigate the effect of different antibiotics on bacteria.

Edexcel A Investigate rate of respiration practically.

Edexcel A Investigate the effects of exercise on tidal volume, breathing rate, respiratory minute ventilation and oxygen consumption using data from spirometer traces.

Edexcel A Investigate habituation to a stimulus.

Edexcel B Investigate a factor affecting the initial rate of an enzyme controlled reaction.

Edexcel B Use of the light microscope, including simple stage and eyepiece micrometers and drawing small numbers of cells from a specialised tissue.

Edexcel B Make a temporary squash preparation of a root tip to show stages of mitosis in the meristem under the light microscope.

Edexcel B Investigate the effect of sucrose concentrations on pollen tube growth.

Edexcel B Investigate the effect of temperature on beetroot membrane permeability.

Edexcel B Determine the water potential of a plant tissue.

Edexcel B Dissect an insect to show the structure of the gas exchange system.

Edexcel B Investigate factors affecting water uptake by plant shoots using a potometer.

Edexcel B Investigate factors affecting the rate of respiration using a respirometer.

Edexcel B Investigate the effects of different wavelengths of light on the rate of photosynthesis.

Edexcel B Investigate the presence of different chloroplast pigments using chromatography.

Edexcel B Investigate the rate of growth of bacteria in liquid culture.

Edexcel B Isolate individual species from a mixed culture of bacteria using streak plating.

Edexcel B Investigate the effect of gibberellin on the production of amylase in germinating cereals using a starch agar assay.

Edexcel B Investigate the effect of different sampling methods on estimates of the size of a population.

Edexcel B Investigate the effect of one abiotic factor on the distribution or morphology of one species.

OCR A and B Microscopy: Using a light microscope to study mitosis

OCR A and B Dissection: Dissection of the mammalian heart

OCR A and B Sampling techniques: The calculation of species diversity

OCR A and B Rates of enzyme controlled reactions: The effect of substrate concentration on the rate of an enzyme controlled reaction

OCR A and B Colorimeter or photometer: The effect of temperature on membrane permeability (An alternative experiment using a potometer could be carried out within this practical activity group)

OCR A and B Chromatography OR electropheoresis: Identification of the amino acids in a protein using paper chromatography

OCR A and B Microbiological techniques: The effect of antibiotics on bacterial growth

OCR A and B Transport in and out of cells: An investigation into the water potential of potato

OCR A and B Qualitative testing: Qualitative testing for biological molecules – proteins

OCR A and B Investigation using a data logger OR computer: Investigating DNA structure using RasMol

OCR A and B Investigation into the measurement of plant or animal responses: Investigation into the

effect of exercise on pulse rate

OCR A and B Research skills: Investigation into the respiration rate of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

WJEC Food tests to include: iodine-potassium iodide test for starch; Benedict's test for reducing and non-reducing sugars; Biuret test for protein; emulsion test for fats and oils.

WJEC Calibration of the light microscope at low and high power, including calculation of actual size and magnification

WJEC Preparation and scientific drawing of a slide of living cells e.g. onion/ rhubarb/ Amoeba including calculation of actual size and magnification of drawing

WJEC Observation of a range of prepared slides showing examples of epithelia, muscle and connective tissue

WJEC Observation of a range of electron micrographs of prokaryote and eukaryote cells to show structure

WJEC Determination of water potential by measuring changes in mass/length

WJEC Determination of solute potential by measuring the degree of incipient plasmolysis

WJEC Investigation into the permeability of cell membranes using beetroot

WJEC Investigation into the effect of temperature or pH on enzyme activity

WJEC Investigation into the effect of enzyme or substrate concentration on enzyme activity

WJEC Simple extraction of DNA from living material

WJEC Investigation of dehydrogenase activity using artificial hydrogen acceptors, as illustrated by methylene blue or DCPIP or tetrazolium compounds

WJEC Investigation into the separation of chloroplast pigments by chromatography

WJEC Investigation into factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis

WJEC Investigation into the role of nitrogen and magnesium in plant growth

WJEC Investigation into factors affecting the rate of respiration in yeast

WJEC Investigation into the numbers of bacteria in fresh and stale milk, using techniques of serial dilution, plating and counting colonies

WJEC Preparation and observation of bacteria stained using Gram technique

WJEC Investigation into biodiversity: fieldwork involving the use of quadrats, line transects or kick sampling

WJEC Scientific drawing of cells from slides of root tip to show stages of mitosis

WJEC Scientific drawing of cells from prepared slides of developing anthers to show stages of meiosis

WJEC Investigation of the digestion of starch agar using germinating seeds

WJEC Dissection of wind and insect-pollinated flowers

WJEC Scientific drawing of a low power plan of a prepared slide of anther, including calculation of actual size and magnification of drawing

WJEC Observation of prepared slides to show histology of ovary

WJEC Experiment to illustrate gene segregation including the use of the Chi squared test in testing the significance of genetic outcomes

WJEC Investigation of continuous variation in a species (including use of the Student’s t-test)

WJEC Dissection of fish head to show ventilation mechanisms

WJEC Scientific drawing of a low power plan of a prepared slide of T.S. leaf dicotyledon e.g. Ligustrum (privet), including calculation of actual size and magnification of drawing

WJEC Observation of T.S. lung

WJEC Observation of T.S. trachea

WJEC Investigation into stomatal numbers in leaves Investigation into transpiration using a simple potometer

WJEC Scientific drawing of a low power plan of a prepared slide of T.S artery and vein, including calculation of actual size and magnification of drawing

WJEC Dissection of mammalian heart

WJEC Observation of erythrocytes and leucocytes in prepared blood smears

WJEC Observation of T.S. primary stem dicotyledon and root

WJEC Observation of T.S. leaf: marram grass and water lily

WJEC Observation of T.S. duodenum/ileum

WJEC Observation of skulls and dentition of a herbivore and a carnivore

WJEC Observation of specimens and slides of tapeworm e.g. Taenia

WJEC Dissection of kidney

WJEC Observation of prepared sections of kidney

WJEC Observation of electron micrographs of sections of kidney

A level biology core practicals - all specs

Question Title

1. Please tick all the biology core practicals from your specification that you think you would want FSC to help you deliver:

Question Title

* 1. Please tick all the biology core practicals from your specification that you think you would want FSC to help you deliver:

1. Please tick all the biology core practicals from your specification that you think you would want FSC to help you deliver: