The Advanced Biology (advanced placement level) Kit
Quality Science Labs is offering a full year of advanced biology lab investigations in a kit. Labs range from the classics (mitosis, osmosis, photosynthesis) to new techniques in biotechnology (clone a fluorescent jellyfish green gene into a bacteria plasmid); mathematical modeling using genetic databases, and significance analysis of your mitosis data.
In the eight student guided inquiries, students will explore and design labs related to environmental effects on enzyme activity, mitotic growth rates, photosynthesis and cellular respiration; the effect of bacterial transformation on the second generation; and variables to increase biofuel production.
The QSL Advanced Biology Lab kit is aligned with and designed to support the first year college/advanced placement level high school biology curriculum, standards, and science practices. Kit labs are ideal for virtual, blended virtual, independent, and home school students as well as classroom lab groups (we recommend a max of four students per kit). The lab kit includes related supplies, chemicals, equipment, personal safety items, and an Advanced Biology Lab Manual.
Note: Some components require refrigerator and freezer storage.
Highlights of covered Science Practices (SP):
Science Inquiry (SP 3,4,6,7) Student-designed inquiries are built into each main lab investigation. Students develop their own scientific questioning, plan, make predictions, and implement data strategies using the Experimental Design (ExD) protocols; as well as construct explanations and connect concepts in and across domains.
Mathematical and Modeling Applications (SP 1,2,3,5) such as Chi-squared analysis for significance, transformation efficiency calculations, rates of reactions using slopes from constructed graphs, and ET50 data analysis, simulations and modeling allele frequencies.
Technology (SP 1,2,6,7) Use of genetic databases like BLAST and Entrez Gene; Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium spreadsheet for analysis of allele frequencies within populations; microrespirometer construction and data collection; and biotechnology practices in bacterial transformation.
Of the eight main lab investigations (two for each AP® Bio Big Idea), there are a total of 24 labs, including a student guided inquiry for each of the eight main lab investigations:
- DIFFUSION AND OSMOSIS
Surface area and cell size, modeling, osmosis in live water plant cells, and student guided inquiry into water potential of plant tissues and osmosis connections to plant transpiration. - CHANGES WITHIN POPULATIONS
PTC taste test global analysis, simulations of changes within populations (Equilibrium, Natural Selection, Genetic Drift); mathematical modeling of allele frequencies within a population, and student guided inquiry. - EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS
Cladogram construction, biochemical analyses of gene and protein sequence % similarities and differences; BLAST database tutorial and cladogram construction for comparing evolutionary relationships; Entrez Gene database tutorial comparing normal gene sequences to chromosomal aberrations in human diseases; and student guided inquiry. - MITOSIS and MEIOSIS
Loss of cell cycle control analysis in cancer cells using human karyotypes; environmental abiotic effects on mitotic rates and data analysis for significance; student guided inquiry on environmental effects on mitosis; and crossing over in meiosis demonstrating increased genetic variability in subsequent generations. - ENZYME ACTIVITY
Catalase enzyme and breakdown of toxins in the liver; enzyme specificity using lactase; enzyme rates of reaction assay and baseline; effects of pH on enzymatic activity; and student guided inquiry for other potential environmental effects on enzyme activity. - PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND CELLULAR RESPIRATION
Predictions on effect of different abiotic conditions on photosynthesis and the effect of exercise on cellular respiration waste product production rates; measuring photosynthesis and cellular respiration rates using the Floating Leaf Disk technique; and student guided inquiry. - BIOTECHNOLOGY – BACTERIAL TRANSFORMATION
Biotechnology simulation of transforming the human insulin-making gene into a bacterial plasmid; bacterial transformation of the jellyfish gene for green fluorescence into E.coli; transformation efficiency calculations; and student guided inquiry of the newly transformed bacterial colonies. - ENERGY DYNAMICS
Environmental impact of eating at lower trophic levels; energy transfer and productivity lab using yeast fermentation of corn sugar into ethanol and carbon dioxide; and student guided inquiry on variables that could potentially increase the rate of fermentation for biofuel production.