SUITABLE FOR GCE A LEVEL OR EQUIVALENT

Practical protocols

These practical protocols are suitable for most A Level Biology courses or equivalent qualifications. Some may also be suitable for GCSE or equivalent courses.

ENZYMES

• Immobilised lactase
• Initial rates of reaction using invertase (includes use of a colorimeter)
• Effect of pH on cellulase activity
• Monitoring protease activity

MICROBIOLOGY

• Immobilised yeast cells
• Gene regulation in E. coli (the Lac operon – includes use of a colorimeter)
• How antibiotic resistance can spread in E. coli (by bacterial conjugation)
• Antibiotic production by Streptomyces griseus

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

• Quantitative investigations of photosynthesis using immobilised algae
• Thin layer chromatography of photosynthetic pigments

RESPIRATION

• The microbial fuel cell

DNA AND PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS

• DNA gel electrophoresis kits
• Protein electrophoresis kit
• Polymerase chain reaction (chloroplast DNA)

DNA AND CLONING

• Paper cut-out DNA model
• Extraction of DNA from plant tissue
• Bacterial transformation (genetic modification)
• Cloning cauliflower (plant tissue culture)