BIOLOGY LAB REPORT

hello

i have a biology experiment attached can write for me the introduction, Materials &

Methods and the conclusion

 

Introduction: Defines the subject, the purpose of doing the experiment; includes some background information (usually can be gathered from the experiment’s intro); reader should be able to understand why the experiment was done, what you already know about the experiment, and the specific purpose of the experiment (usually stated in the title). Do not plagiarize your introduction or you will lose points!!! Also, citing is more than copying the work and listing the source! You must cite within the text as well. Your entire introduction cannot be cited!!! You will lose points for intros that don’t have your original thoughts.

 

Materials & Methods: List the main materials used and write in your own words how the experiment is conducted; reader should understand what materials were used, how the materials were used, and what was actually done during the experiment. If the protocol was altered some way in class, you must make the changes in your lab report. Make sure you underline/italicize all microorganisms!!! Methods should be listed step by step vs. paragraph format.

Conclusion:  answer questions at the end of the experiment, then discuss/conclude what your results mean in terms of the experiment and whether you were successful or not. The conclusion should not just state the experiment was successful, but definitive results should be explained here! Your conclusion should explain how the microbes used in the experiment were affected. For example, if the experiment is on gram staining, then your conclusion should state the gram reaction for each organism used. Ex: E.coli was determined to be gram negative, because it did not retain the purple of the primary stain, but retained the pink of the counter stain.

EXPERIMENT

Microscopic Examination

Of Stained Cell Preparations

Learning Objectives

Once you have completed this experiment, you should be familiar with the

1. Theoretical principles of brightfleld microscopy.

2. Component parts of the compound microscope.

3. Use and care of the compound microscope.

4. Practical use of the compound microscope for visualization of cellular morphology from stained slide preparations.

Principle

Microbiology is a science that studies living or​ganisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Needless to say, such a study must in​volve the use of a good compound microscope. Although there are many types and variations, they all fundamentally consist of a two-lens sys​tem, a variable but controllable light source, and mechanical adjustable parts for determining focal length between the lenses and specimen (Figure 4.1).

Components of the Microscope

Stage A fixed platform with an opening in the center allows the passage of light from an illumi​nating source below to the lens system above the stage. This platform provides a surface for the placement of a slide with its specimen over the central opening. In addition to the fixed stage, most microscopes have a mechanical stage that can be moved vertically or horizontally by means of adjustment controls. Less sophisticated micro​scopes have clips on the fixed stage, and the slide must be positioned manually over the central opening.

Illumination The light source is positioned in the base of the instrument. Some microscopes are equipped with a built-in light source to provide direct illumination. Others are provided with a

 

reversible mirror that has one side flat and the other concave. An external light source, such as a lamp, is placed in front of the mirror to direct the light upward into the lens system. The flat side of the mirror is used for artificial light, and the con​cave side for sunlight.

Abbe Condenser This component is found di​rectly under the stage and contains two sets of lenses that collect and concentrate light as it passes upward from the light source into the lens systems. The condenser is equipped with an iris diaphragm, a shutter controlled by a lever that is used to regulate the amount of light entering the lens system.

Body Tube Above the stage and attached to the arm of the microscope is the body tube. This structure houses the lens system that magnifies the specimen. The upper end of the tube contains the ocular or eyepiece lens. The lower portion consists of a movable nosepiece containing the objective lenses. Rotation of the nosepiece po​sitions objectives above the stage opening. The body tube may be raised or lowered with the aid of coarse-adjustment and flue-adjustment knobs that are located above or below the stage-depending on the type and make of the instrument.

Theoretical Principles of Microscopy

To use the microscope efficiently and with mini​mal frustration, you should understand the basic principles of microscopy: magnification, resolu​tion, numerical aperture, illumination, and focusing.

Magnification Enlargement, or magnification, of a specimen is the function of a two-lens system; the ocular lens is found in the eyepiece, and the objective lens is situated in a revolving nose​piece. These lenses are separated by the body tube. The objective lens is nearer the specimen and magnifies it, producing the real image that is projected up into the focal plane and then magni​fied by the ocular lens to produce the final image.

image1.png

Ocular

(eyepiece)

lenses

Body tube lock screw

Head-

Arm

Mechanical stage

Coarse-

adjustment knob

Fine-

adjustment knob

Objective lenses

Diaphragm lever Condenser

Iris diaphragm lever

Substage light

Condenser adjustment knob

Light control

Base

Power switch

Figure 4.1 Leica ATC 2000 compound microscope

The most commonly used microscopes are equipped with a revolving nosepiece containing four objective lenses, each possessing a different degree of magnification. When these are com​bined with the magnification of the ocular lens, the total or overall linear magnification of the specimen is obtained. This is shown in Table 4.1.

Resolving Power or Resolution Although mag​nification is important, you must be aware that unlimited enlargement is not possible by merely increasing the magnifying power of the lenses or by using additional lenses, because lenses are limited by a property called resolving power. By definition, resolving power is how far apart two adjacent objects must be before a given lens shows them as discrete entities. When a lens

cannot discriminate, that is, when the two ob​jects appear as one, it has lost resolution. In​creased magnification will not rectify the loss and will, in fact, blur the object. The resolving power of a lens is dependent on the wavelength of light used and the numerical aperture, which is a characteristic of each lens and imprinted on each objective. The numerical aperture is defined as a function of the diameter of the objective lens in relation to its focal length. It is doubled by use of the substage condenser, which illuminates the ob​ject with rays of light that pass through the speci​men obliquely as well as directly. Thus, resolving power is expressed mathematically as follows:

resolving power =

wavelength of light

2 x numerical aperture

Overall Linear Magnification

MAGNIFICATION

TOTAL MAGNIFICATION

OCULAR LENS

OBJECTIVE LENSES

OBJECTIVE MULTIPLIED BY OCULAR

40x 100x 400x 1000X

Scanning 4x Low-power 10x High-power 40X Oil-immersion 100x

10x 10X 10X 10X

Based on this formula, the shorter the wave​length, the greater the resolving power of the lens. Thus, for the same numerical aperture, short wavelengths of the electromagnetic spec​trum are better suited for higher resolution than are longer wavelengths.

However, as with magnification, resolving power also has limits. You might rationalize that merely decreasing the wavelength will automati​cally increase the resolving power of a lens. Such is not the case, because the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is very narrow and borders on the very short wavelengths found in the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum.

The relationship between wavelength and numerical aperture is valid only for increased re​solving power when light rays are parallel. There​fore, the resolving power is also dependent on another factor, the refractive index. This is the bending power of light passing through air from the glass slide to the objective lens. The refrac​tive index of air is lower than that of glass; as light rays pass from the glass slide into the air, they are bent or refracted so that they do not pass into the objective lens. This would cause a loss of light, which would reduce the numerical aperture and diminish the resolving power of the objective lens. Loss of refracted light can be compensated for by interposing mineral oil, which has the same refractive index as glass, be​tween the slide and the objective lens. In this way, decreased light refraction occurs and more light rays enter directly into the objective lens, producing a vivid image with high resolution (Figure 4.2).

Illumination Effective illumination is required for efficient magnification and resolving power. Since the intensity of daylight is an uncontrolled variable, artificial light from a tungsten lamp is

the most commonly used light source in mi​croscopy. The light is passed through the con​denser located beneath the stage. The condenser contains two lenses that are necessary to produce a maximum numerical aperture. The height of the condenser can be adjusted with the condenser knob. Always keep the condenser close to the stage, especially when using the oil-immersion objective.

image2.png

Objective lens

Refracted (lost)

Slide —[

Condenser

Light source

Figure 4.2 Refractive index in air and in mineral oil

Between the light source and the condenser is the iris diaphragm, which can be opened and closed by means of a lever, thereby regulating the

amount of light entering the condenser. Exces-

sive illumination may actually obscure the speci​men because of lack of contrast. The amount of light entering the microscope differs with each objective lens used. A rule of thumb is that as the magnification of the lens increases, the distance between the objective lens and slide, called working distance, decreases, whereas the nu​merical aperture of the objective lens increases

(Figure 4.3).

Use and Care of the Microscope

You will be responsible for the proper care and use of microscopes. Since microscopes are ex​pensive, you must observe the following regula​tions and procedures.

The instruments are housed in special cabi​nets and must be moved by users to their laboratory benches. The correct and only acceptable way to do this is to grip the microscope arm firmly with the right hand and the base with the left hand, and lift the instrument from the cabinet shelf. Carry it close to the body and gently place it on the laboratory bench. This will prevent colli​sion with furniture or coworkers and will protect the instrument against damage.

Once the microscope is placed on the labora​tory bench, observe the following rules:

1. Remove all unnecessary materials (such as books, papers, purses, and hats) from the lab​oratory bench.

2. Uncoil the microscope’s electric cord and plug it into an electrical outlet.

3. Clean all lens systems; the smallest bit of dust, oil, lint, or eyelash will decrease the efficiency of the microscope. The ocular, scanning, low-power, and high-power lenses may be cleaned by wiping several times with acceptable lens tissue. Never use paper toweling or cloth on a lens surface. If the oil-immersion lens is gummy or tacky, a piece of lens paper moistened with xylol is used to wipe it clean. The xylol is immedi​ately removed with a tissue moistened with 95% alcohol, and the lens is wiped dry with lens paper. Note: This xylol cleansing pro​cedure should be performed only by the in​structor and only if necessary; consistent use of xylol may loosen the lens.

The following routine procedures must be followed to ensure correct and efficient use of the microscope.

1. Place the microscope slide with the specimen within the stage clips on the fixed stage. Move the slide to center the specimen over the opening in the stage directly over the light source.

2. Raise the microscope stage up as far as it will go. Rotate the scanning lens or low-power lens into position. Lower the body tube with the coarse-adjustment knob to its lowest po​sition. Note: Never lower the body tube while looking through the ocular lens.

3. While looking through the ocular lens, use the fine-adjustment knob, rotating it back and forth slightly, to bring the specimen into sharp focus.

4. Adjust the substage condenser to achieve op​timal focus.

5. Routinely adjust the light source by means of the light-source transformer setting, and/or the iris diaphragm, for optimum illumination for each new slide and for each change in magnification.

6. Most microscopes are parfocal, which means that when one lens is in focus, other lenses will also have the same focal length and can be rotated into position without fur​ther major adjustment. In practice, however, usually a half-turn of the fine-adjustment knob in either direction is necessary for sharp focus.

7. Once you have brought the specimen into sharp focus with a low-powered lens, prepa​ration may be made for visualizing the speci​men under oil immersion. Place a drop of oil on the slide directly over the area to be viewed. Rotate the nosepiece until the oil-immersion objective locks into position. Note: Care should be taken not to allow the high-power objective to touch the drop of oil. The slide is observed from the side as the objective is ro​tated slowly into position. This will ensure that the objective will be properly immersed in the oil. The fine-adjustment knob is read​justed to bring the image into sharp focus.

8. During microscopic examination of microbial organisms, it is always necessary to observe several areas of the preparation. This is ac​complished by scanning the slide without the application of additional immersion oil. Note: This will require continuous, very fine ad​justments by the slow, back-and-forth rota​tion of the fine-adjustment knob only.

Diaphragm Opening

Objective

Working Distance

image3.png

image4.png

image5.png

Scanning 4x

4x

Reduced

9-10 mm

Slide

image6.png

image7.png

image8.png

Low power 10x

10x

Not fully opened

5-8 mm

Slide

image9.png

image10.png

image11.png

High power 40x

40x

Not fully

opened

0.5-0.7 mm

J

Slide

image12.png

image13.png

image14.png

Oil immersion 100x

100x

Fully opened

0.13-0.18 mm

Slide

Figure 4.3 Relationship between working distance, objective, and

Diaphragm opening

On completion of the laboratory exercise, re​turn the microscope to its cabinet in its original condition. The following steps are recommended:

1. Clean all lenses with dry, clean lens paper. Note: Use xylol to remove oil from the stage only.

2. Place the low-power objective in position and lower the body tube completely.

3. Center the mechanical stage.

4. Coil the electric cord around the body tube and the stage.

5. Carry the microscope to its position in its cabinet in the manner previously described.

AT THE BENCH

Materials

Slides

Commercially prepared slides of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Aquaspirillum iter-sonii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and a human blood smear.

Equipment

Compound microscope, lens paper, and immer​sion oil.

Procedure

1. Review the parts of the microscope, making sure you know the names and understand the function of each of these components.

2. Review instructions for the use of the micro​scope, giving special attention to the use of the oil-immersion objective.

3. Examine the prepared slides, noting the shapes and the relative sizes of the cells un​der the high-power (also called high-dry, be​cause it is the highest power that does not use oil) and oil-immersion objectives.

4. Record your observations in the Lab Report.

Observations and Results

Draw several cells from a typical microscopic field as viewed under each mag​nification, and give the total magnification for each objective.

Lab Report

High Power

Oil Immersion

S. aureus

image15.png

image16.png

Magnification

B. subtilis

image17.png

image18.png

Magnification

A. itersonii

image19.png

image20.png

Magnification

S. cerevisiae

image21.png

image22.png

Magnification

Blood smear

image23.png

image24.png

Magnification

Review Questions

1. Explain why the body tube of the microscope should not be lowered while you are looking through the ocular lens.

2. For what purpose would you adjust each of the following microscope components during a microscopy exercise?

a. Iris diaphragm:

b. Coarse-adjustment knob:

c. Fine-adjustment knob:

d. Condenser:

e. Mechanical stage control:

3. As a beginning student in the microbiology laboratory, you experience some difficulties in using the oil-immersion lens. Describe the steps you would take to correct the following problems:

a. Inability to bring the specimen into sharp focus.

b. Insufficient light while viewing the specimen.

c. Artifacts in the microscopic field.

 
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Biology Lab plant_transpiration

http://www.pearsoned.ca/school/science11/biology11/sugartransport.html

 

http://quizlet.com/6923750/chapter-37-water-and-sugar-transport-in-plants-flash-cards/

 

http://bcs.whfreeman.com/thelifewire/content/chp36/36020.html

 

http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs_2K8/labs/BL_12/index.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Lab: Plant Transpiration

 

Please complete questions below prior to attempting the lab report for this assignment.

Table 1: Total Amount of Water (in mL) Transpired in One Hour

Plant Type Normal Conditions (21oC) With Heater

(27oC)

With Fan (21oC) With Lamp (21oC)
Arrowhead 3.6 6.6 7.5 4.0
Coleus 0.9 3.9 6.0 3.0
Devil’s Ivy 2.9 4.1 4.6 3.0
Dieffenbachia 4.1 6.0 7.7 3.9
English Ivy 1.8 3.2 5.1 2.1
Geranium 1.2 5.8 4.7 2.4
Rubber Plant 4.9 6.8 8.4 4.3
Weeping Plant 3.3 4.9 6.1 2.5
Zebra Plant 4.2 6.1 7.6 3.2

 

1. Define transpiration.

 

 

The process by which moisture is carried through plants.

 

2. Based on the results from your lab, how might your results differ if you direct the air flow onto the upper surface of the leaf versus the lower surface? Why?

 

 

 

 

 

3. Did any of the environmental factors (heat, light, or wind) increase the transpiration rate more than the others? Why?

 

 

The transportation was increased mostly by the fan: 6.4 As it increased the respiration by transporting water away from plant.

 

 

4. Which species of plants that you tested had the highest transpiration rates? Why do you think different species of plants transpire at different rates?

 

The plant that was observed with the highest rate of transportation is the rubber plant. Also, each plant species has a rate of transportation, good for its domestic environment. As higher transportation rates could be an indicator of a more wet climate. And lower rate of transportation could be used to conserve water in hotter climates.

 

 

5. Describe the pathway of water movement from xylem cells in the stem to the air surrounding the leaf.

 

6. What is the role of the roots and root hairs in transpiration?

 

 

7. With intense sunlight, drought, and intense wind a plant’s guard cells may lose turgor pressure and its stoma may close.

a. What is an advantage of a plant’s stoma closing?

b. What is a disadvantage of a plant’s stoma closing?

 

8. Explain the purpose of each of the following structures with regard to transpiration:

a. Cuticle –

b. Guard cells –

c. Trichomes –

 

9. Beside each of the following terms, write out whether it describes collenchyma, parenchyma, or sclerenchyma cells.

 

found in stems –

thin-walled, many-sided cells –

dead at maturity –

contain lignin –

thick-walled, irregularly shaped –

photosynthetic cells –

 

10. Are the number of stomata on the underside of a leaf more, less, or the same as on the upper surface of a leaf?

 

11. When you receive a bouquet of flowers, it is recommended that you cut a couple of inches off of the stems before placing them in a vase. Why do you think this is?

 

 

12. Explain why vessel elements would have no need for companion cells.

.

13. Identify the properties of water that assist water transport in xylem.

 

14. Explain the process in which sugars move from source to sink in a plant.

 

 

15. Describe the cohesion-tension model in detail.

.

 
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GMOs and Feeding the World

GMOs and Feeding the World

“The controversy surrounding genetically modified organisms has real importance for society, there are complex scientific and logical issues to sort through, and the topic is rife with misinformation and motivated reasoning……” -Dr. Novella, academic neurologist; Yale University School of Medicine

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=HN.608026666306896369&w=300&h=300&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0 http://borgenproject.org/wp-content/uploads/comoro-crops-new-economy-food-foreign-aid-dependency-borgen-project.jpg

Objectives:

1. Journey around the world and explore the use of GMOs and their application for feeding the world.….

2. Defend your belief on the following: Are GMOs a good thing for society or are we heading into dangerous territory in their use?

Directions: Please respond with a different color of ink and include your original questions.

1. You will be asked to review the background information I have provided and visit the various articles and videos for each question.

2. You will then respond to the questions following the attached websites.

3. Finally, you will be asked to find alternate evidence and defend YOUR views on the issue.

4. Total point value: 70 points

What are the ethical concerns regarding GMOs in the food industry?

Remember, the first step in ethical problem solving and policy decision making involves ascertaining the facts . Facts by themselves, however, only tell us what is; they do not tell us what ought to be. Resolving an ethical issue also requires an appeal to values. Before tackling the GMO debate, let’s review the five different approaches philosophers have developed to deal with moral issues. (use these in defending your views for GMOs on the final question)

1. Utilitarian Approach: What benefits and what harms will each course of action produce, and which alternative will lead to the best overall consequences?

2. Rights Approach: What moral rights do the affected parties have, and which course of action best respects those rights?

3. Fairness or Justice Approach: Which course of action treats everyone the same, except where there is a morally justifiable reason not to, and does not show favoritism or discrimination?

4. Common Good Approach: Which course of action advances the common good?

5. Virtue Approach: Which course of action develops moral virtues?

(1) The GMO Controversy:

Article #1: http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/the-gmo-controversy/

Leading Environmental Activist’s Blunt Confession: I Was Completely ...

“GMO critics despise corporate control and greed, and fear the unnatural, while GMO advocates see this technology as an example of the triumph of human ingenuity and science”

“God (Nature in my view) makes all things good; man meddles with them and they become evil…” “― Jean-Jacques Rousseau; philosopher, 1770

15 points; each question is worth 1 point, unless otherwise noted – all T/F .5 point-

1. Beliefs concerning GMOs tend to be dominated by two opposing narratives: What are they?

2. GMO advocates point out that pretty much all food that is consumed by humans has already been extensively modified by human activity. (True or False?)

3. What was corn cultivated from? (.5 point)

4. Cultivation uses a combination of what two basic processes to create countless varieties of common plants?

5. What is artificial selection? (.5 point)

6. What is cross pollination? (.5 point)

7. Orange carrots are not the result of a mutation (True or False?)

8. What is mutation breeding?

9. How many mutagenic plant varietals were released between 1930 and 2007? (.5 point)

10. What are the two basic types of GMOs? (.5 point)

11. What is the difference between the two types of GMOs? (.5 point)

12. What are the four types of GM plants currently approved for use?

13. Contamination of genes from other kingdoms occurs, even in nature (True or False?)

14. According to the American Association for the Advancement of science, GM crops are the most extensively tested crops ever added to our food supply. (True or False?)

15. According to the article, studies comparing GM and non-GM potatoes, soy, rice, corn and triticale found that the GM and their non-GM counterparts are NOT nutritionally equivalent.” (True or False?)

16. The National Academies of Science states that “To date, no adverse health effects attributed to genetic engineering have been documented in the human population.” (True or False?)

17. What does the World Health Organization say about GM foods? (.5 point)

18. Plants that are produced through hybridization, which can chaotically mix in hundreds of genes, and plants resulting from mutagenic breeding do not require the same safety testing currently required of GMOs. (True or False?)

19. According to the article GM crops with insect and herbicide resistance can be useful and even protect the environment, but they have to be used as part of what type of strategy?

20. What are the three major seed companies? (.5 point)

21. What are some of the claims made against Monsanto that, according to the article, are not true? (.5 point)

22. According to the article, the big seed companies have overhyped their own products and encouraged overreliance on their GMOs as a single solution to farming’s complex issues. True or False?(.5 point)

23. Why are Monocultures counterproductive? (.5 point)

24. According to the article, Seed companies should be encouraged to not just make one variety with a favorable trait, but do what?

25. According to the article, Genetic modification is a powerful technology, and its impact will depend entirely on what?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2) Attack of the Killer Tomatoes?

Article #2: http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/submitted/schulman/tomatoes.html

1752132213_350d71e41e.jpg http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000uHZ2ySGVuUQ/s/750/011006-01.jpg

“On one hand, you have the proponents who are talking about the benefits of genetic engineering in terms of science. On the other, you have people in butterfly costumes.”

10 points total: each question is worth 1 point unless otherwise noted.

1. England’s Prince of Whales claims that GMOs do what?

2. Where does the Catholic church stand with regard to GMOs?

3. Why does the author compare GMOs to microwaves and DDT? (.5 point)

4. What type of harm has resulted to humans as a result of ingesting GMOs?

5. What is the “Terminator gene” and what is the controversy surrounding it? (.5 point)

6. Why are the risks of GMO being defined by those who are frightened?

7. How long have GMOs been on the market here in the United States without the consumer knowledge?(.5 point)

8. Under what conditions does the Food and Drug Administration require the labeling of Genetically modified foods? (.5 point)

9. What might increase the consumer’s trust in the use of GMOs?

10. The United States has the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency to regulate food safety. Who regulates food safety in Europe?

11. What disease occurred in Europe that ultimately put the blame on farmers and, according to the authors, led to a heightened fear of the food industry by Europeans?

12. What is the consequentialism theory?

 

 

 

(3) Technologies behind the controversy

 

Video #1 Genetic Modification (5 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSBnoGZoAHs

<b>Genetic modification</b> (GM) http://www.genomicon.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/gene-gun.jpg

“The crops we see today are vastly different from those plants that existed at the dawn of civilization Since the beginning o agriculture farmers and gardeners have altered the genetic codes of plants and animals even if they were not aware of it at the time. …”.

5 points total. Each question is worth 2 points unless otherwise noted

 

1. What is the difference between cross-breeding and transgenic plants?

2. Where did the Modified Bacterium approach to gene insertion come from?

3. How does a gene gun work? (1 point)

 

(4) The Farmer’s perspective: Evolution, BT Corn Genes and Bug Genes

.Video #2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9xpKx03g9M

 

 

https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608043000067064253&pid=15.1&P=0 http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--pg6iu07sFA/U7oFMIoz4ZI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/ZHKMdj0pJYU/s1600/Corn+Borer.JPG

85% of the foods we eat come from large farms….Farmers want to know : ” Can Monsanto’s genetic technology help get rid of a big pest: the European Corn borer caterpillar?”

 

5 points total: Each question below is worth 1 point

 

1. How specific can farmers get with conventional pesticide spraying techniques?

2. Why would a farmer turn to GE crops for controlling insects?

3. Is the BT toxin harmful to humans ? Is it harmful to most other insects?

4. What did the Environmental protection agency mandate in order to deal with the issue of resistant pests?

5. Who monitors whether or not the farmers are laying aside land for this area of refuge for insects?

 

 

 

 

(5) Straight Talk on Genetically Modified Organisms

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ED-drwc1ycs/TFaqxl3m-oI/AAAAAAAAADg/3Z6aM0dQPQs/s1600/genetically-modified-food.jpg

Article #3: http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/biotech-faq.pdf

 

“label claims are misleading, because they falsely imply that the food made without GE ingredients is somehow safer than or superior to the same product made with GE ingredients. “

5 points total

1. What kind of traits have been engineered into agricultural crops? (1 point)

2. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the National Academy of Sciences and the European Food Safety Agency all agree that GMOs are safe to eat. True or False? (.5 point)

3. How can Americans avoid eating GM products? (.5 point)

4. Which U.S agencies regulate GE crops? (.5 point)

5. Which agencies regulate the environmental safety of GE crops? (.5 point)

6. According to the article, the EPA needs to ensure that farmers comply with refuge requirements. What are these?

7. What precautions are being taken related to the creation of new allergies through GM products??

 

(6) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

 

FAO/19720/G.Bizzari Image result for food and agriculture of the united nations

Article #4 http://www.fao.org/english/newsroom/focus/2003/gmo7.htm

“An ecosystem, you can always intervene and change something in it, but there’s no way of knowing what all the downstream effects will be …” – Dr. Richard Lewontin, Professor of Genetics, Harvard University

(5 points total)

 

1. Describe five pros of GM technology related to agricultural production, health and the environment.

2. Describe five cons of GM technology related to health, the environment and socio-economical factors.

 

 

(7) The case for engineering our food

(10 points: all questions are worth 1 point unless otherwise noted, We may be viewing portions of this TEDs talk in class if time permits)

 

Image:https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/sites/default/files/Pamela_Ronald_and_Raoul_Adamchak_on_the_UC_Davis_certified_organic_farm_hero.jpg

Video #3 (17 minutes) https://www.ted.com/talks/pamela_ronald_the_case_for_engineering_our_food?language=en

Pamela Ronald studies the genes that make plants more resistant to disease and stress. In an eye-opening talk, she describes her decade-long quest to isolate a gene that allows rice to survive prolonged flooding. She shows how the genetic improvement of seeds saved the Hawaiian papaya crop in the 1990s — and makes the case that modern genetics is sometimes the most effective method to advance sustainable agriculture and enhance food security for our planet’s growing population. In this TEDs talk, Dr. Ronald also shows us why genetic modification isn’t necessarily hostile to traditional (even organic) farming.

“ I know so many people who are anti-GMO, but I’ve always considered that to be a misunderstanding of a technology that’s been around since the dawn of agriculture…..”

Directions: view the attached TEDs talk (above) Complete the following questions:

1. Genetic modification is not new; virtually everything we eat has been genetically modified in some manner. True or false?

2. The rice in the cereal that many of us fed our babies was developed by what process? )2 points)

3. Why were over 70 million rice farmers in developing countries having trouble growing rice? (2 points)

4. If you bite into an organic conventional papaya that is infected with the ringspot virus you will be chewing on tenfold more viral protein than the “vaccinated” genetically modified papaya. True or false?

5. In less developed countries, 500,000 children go blind every year because of a lack of what vitamin?

6. After 20 years of careful study and rigorous peer review by thousands of independent scientists, every major scientific organization in the world has concluded that the crops currently on the market are safe to eat and that the process of genetic engineering is no more risky than older methods of genetic modification. True or false?

7. According to Pamela Roland in “The Case for Engineering our Food”, instead of worrying about the genes in our food, we must focus on what? (2 points)

nourish-the-planet

Image: https://i.unu.edu/media/ourworld.unu.edu-en/article/2917/nourish-the-planet.jpg

(8) Viewing the issue from all angles: (15 points)

1. Search the internet for another TEDs talk or video that present views opposing those of Dr. Panela Ronald (in “The Case for Engineering Food” above).

Post the link to the video here: ____________________________(3 points)

2. Summarize the key points of the video you attached and oppositions to GMOs (5 points)

3. Based on the pros and cons, where do YOU stand on the issue of GMOs? (7 points)

 
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Osmosis WEEK 3 EXPERI

Please submit to the Week 3 Experiment dropbox no later than Sunday midnight.

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES FOR WEEK 1 EXPERIMENT ASSIGNMENT

 

·         Experiment 3 Exercise 1 – Diffusion: Movement of Solutes across a Membrane

·         Experiment 3 Exercise 2 – Osmosis: Movement of Water across a Membrane

 

Experiment 3 Exercise 1: Diffusion – Movement of Solutes across a Membrane

We will be using dialysis tubing to simulate a semipermeable membrane. This tubing allows small molecules (e.g., water, ions, glucose) to pass while preventing large molecules (e.g., macromolecules like proteins, starch, glycogen) from moving across.  Be sure you have read over the suggested material before starting this exercise and that you have reviewed the following animations:

Experimental Design

 

A.      The dialysis bag we will use is permeable to water and small molecules (e.g., less than 500 g/mol) and impermeable to large molecules (e.g., more than 500 g/mol).

B.      The dialysis bag is filled with a mixture of glucose (molecular weight = 180 g/mol) and protein (molecular weight = 10,000 g/mol) dissolved in water. A small subsample of the dialysis bag contents is saved and will be used in Step 4.

C.      The dialysis bag is then placed into a beaker of water. A small subsample of beaker water is also saved and is to be used in Step 4 as well.

The presence or absence of glucose and protein will be determined using indicators. Indicators change colors in the presence certain materials. The two tests that we’ll use are the Benedict’s test for simple sugars (e.g., glucose) and theBiuret test for the presence of proteins.

·         If glucose is present, the Benedict’s indicator will turn green. If no glucose is present, the solution will be blue.

·         If protein is present, the Biuret indicator will turn violet.  If the solution remains clear, then no protein is present.

4.    The subsample of dialysis bag solution and the beaker water are tested for the presence of glucose and protein. SeeTable 1 below for the results.

5.    The dialysis bag is then left in the beaker of water for 60 minutes.

6.    At the end of 60 minutes, the dialysis bag solution and the beaker water are again tested for the presence of glucose and protein. See Table 1 below for the results.

 

Table 1. Results of testing of the dialysis bag and beaker contents at the beginning and end of the Experiment.

 

Questions

1.    Summarize the results regarding the presence (+) or absence (-) of glucose and protein in the dialysis bag and beaker in Table 2 below (4 pts):

 

 

2.    Explain the movement or lack of movement of protein and glucose across the dialysis bag membrane (4 pts)

3.    Which solution, that in the bag or that in the beaker, is hypotonic compared with the protein solution (2 pts)?

4.    What factors affect the movement of molecules across a semipermeable membrane? Which factor plays the greatest role in biological systems (4 pts)?

 

5.    Briefly explain what active transport is and how it differs from passive transport, especially in terms of concentration gradients (4 pts).

 

 

 

Experiment 3 Exercise 2: Osmosis – The Movement of Water across a Membrane

 

Before starting, let’s see what you know about the terms hypotonic, isotonic and hypertonic. Examine the diagrams below. Note that the small green circles represent dissolved solutes like salt, glucose, and amino acids. You can assume that the additional space surrounding the solutes is water and that the tan area is INSIDE the cell.

 

Question

 

1.      Define each term below in terms of solute concentration outside compared to the inside of the cell. You do not need to explain which direction water will move (3 pts).

a.      Hypotonic –

b.      Isotonic –
c.       Hypertonic –

 

Procedure

1.    Open the following website to get started:

The Biology Place. No Date. Osmosis: Movement of Water across Membranes
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/biomembrane1/osmosis.html

B.      Read over the information presented and then Click on 

C.      Then, Click on .  Read through the information presented and be sure to click on Animate beneath the illustration.

2.      What concentration of salt is isotonic to animal cells (1 pts)?

 

3.      When cells are in isotonic solution, is there movement of water into or out of the cell?  If so, describe this movement (3 pts).

 

  1. Click on  .

    E.      Read through the information presented and be sure to click on Animate beneath the illustration. When ready, answer the following question.

 

 

4.      Describe the net movement of water molecules when cells are placed in a hypotonic solution.  Explain why water moves this way (3 pts).

Procedure (continued)

G.     Read through the information presented and be sure to click on Animate beneath each of the illustrations. Answer the following questions. Your answers should incorporate the terminology used in the animations.

5.      What happens to an animal cell when placed in a hypotonic solution (2 pts)?

 

 

6.      What happens to plant cells when placed in a hypotonic solution? What accounts for the difference in outcomes between animal cells and plant cells (3 pts)?

 

 

Procedure (continued)

8.    Click on  

I.     Then,  Read through the information presented and be sure to click on Animate beneath the illustration. Answer the following question.

 

7.      Describe the net movement of water molecules when cells are placed in a hypertonic solution.  Explain why water moves this way (3 pts).

 

Procedure (continued)

10.  Click on

K.      Read through the information presented and be sure to click on Animate beneath the illustration. Answer the following questions.

8.    Compare and contrast what happens to plant and animal cells when placed in a hypertonic solution. Be sure to use proper terminology (4 pts).

9.    Based on what you learned in this exercise, explain why salt might make a good weed killer (3 pts).

 

Week 3 Experiment Grading Rubric

 
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