biology coursework idearing

• Comparison of the flora in mown and unmown grass / or of fauna in tree bark --- smooth vs. rough

• Comparison of small fauna in two different areas (pitfall traps)

• Comparison of woodlice populations in two different areas (mark, release recapture)

• Pond comparison

• The effect of nitrate levels on growth of lemna (duckweed)

Biochemistry / Enzymes

• The effect of lead on the browning of bananas

• The effect of pH / submersion / temperature on the rate of apples turning brown

• The effect of liver / potatoes on hydrogen peroxide

• The effect of temperature / pH / concentration (of pectinase) on the volume of apple juice collected

• The effects of different ways of cooking / preserving food on Vitamin C content (use DCPIP and something like peas --- compare fresh / frozen / tinned or cooking for different lengths of time)

• The effect of immobilising an enzyme compared to the same enzyme in solution on the rate of reaction (milk and galactosidase works well, use diastix to measure product)

• The effect of bead size / enzyme concentration / substrate concentration / rate of flow on the reaction rate of an immobilised enzyme (see above)

• The effect of calcium chloride concentration on the clotting of milk by the enzyme Rennilase or equivalent

Human Physiology

• The effect of smoking on lung capacity (would need some honest volunteers --- smokers needed, but not allowing them to smoke for the experiment)

• The effect of drinking (e.g. coca cola or equivalent) on reaction times

• Is there a correlation between height and hand span / finger length / foot size, or any other body part

• The effect of different types of items on memory (use sequences of letters, numbers, words)

• The effect of aural vs. visual memories

• The effect of distractions (whatever you like!) on the ability to memorise sequences

Microbiology

• The effect of different brands of toothpaste / mouthwashes / antiseptics / disinfectants on bacterial growth

• The effect of different yeast strains on rate of fermentation

• The effect of different substrates e.g. carbohydrates / temperature / pH on rate of fermentation by yeasts

Plant Growth

• The effect of a mineral deficiency (e.g. potassium / nitrate / phosphate concentration) on plant algal growth (duckweed or rapid cycling brassicas or oat seedlings), use potassium carbonate as the carbonate is inactive?

• The effect of pollutants on growth of duckweed chlorella (may take 2-3 weeks). Copper coins could be used

• The effect of competition on plant growth (cress seeds in small pots --- different numbers --- measure percent germination and/or height)

Plant Physiology

• The effect of light intensity on photosynthesis) use the SAPS practical with algal balls --- Scenedesmus --- great fun, but you need to grow enough alga --- check the SAPS website for details

• The effect of temperature on how much colour leaks out of beetroot

• The effect of upper vs. lower surface on the number of stomata (can be microscope investigation or simply put leaves into very hot water and count bubbles --- comparison of light vs. shade

• The effect of freezing on germination success

• The effect of allelopathy

• The effect of heavy metal pollution on germination / growth

Plant Physiology

• The effect of light intensity on photosynthesis) use the SAPS practical with algal balls --- Scenedesmus --- great fun, but you need to grow enough alga --- check the SAPS website for details

• The effect of temperature on how much colour leaks out of beetroot

• The effect of upper vs. lower surface on the number of stomata (can be microscope investigation or simply put leaves into very hot water and count bubbles --- comparison of light vs. shade

• The effect of freezing on germination success

• The effect of allelopathy

• The effect of heavy metal pollution on germination / growth

Plant Physiology

• The effect of light intensity on photosynthesis) use the SAPS practical with algal balls --- Scenedesmus --- great fun, but you need to grow enough alga --- check the SAPS website for details

• The effect of temperature on how much colour leaks out of beetroot

• The effect of upper vs. lower surface on the number of stomata (can be microscope investigation or simply put leaves into very hot water and count bubbles --- comparison of light vs. shade

• The effect of freezing on germination success

• The effect of allelopathy

• The effect of heavy metal pollution on germination / growth