The aim of the investigation is to find out how an increase in surrounding temperature affects the activity of the plasma cell membrane of beetroot cells.

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The effect of Temperature on Beetroot Membranes

Introduction:

All multi cellular cells are made up of a number of organelles. To function properly, a cell needs to be able to control the transport of substances, and this is done through a selectively permeable membrane (8-10 micrometers thick.) Beetroot contains red pigments that are found within the cell vacuole. Generally, the red pigment cannot pass through the cell membrane unless the cell is damaged, and in this case, the cell bleeds from the cell. The amount the beetroot ‘bleeds’ from a sample is an indication of the degree of damage. The following experiment can establish what effect an increase in temperature has on the plasma membrane.

Aim:

The aim of the investigation is to find out how an increase in surrounding temperature affects the activity of the plasma cell membrane of beetroot cells.

Hypothesis:

I predict that the beetroot will ‘bleed’ more dye as the surrounding temperature increases. This is because I expect that higher temperatures will distort and denature the ‘active site’ and therefore will effect the shape of the fluid mosaic model membrane. The increase of kinetic energy, (through an increased temperature) will speed up the diffusion rate of the red pigment (betalains) and then due to the damage of the membrane and the denatured carrier proteins, this will increase the amount of dye that is ‘bled’ out of the cells resulting in a higher absorbance rate.

Variables:


* It is important to keep the control variable the same as it makes the experiment as fair as possible, in addition to this, you won’t be able to know if the changes to the independent variable are causing the changes to the dependent variable. I will keep them controlled by not changing the controlled variables I have mentioned. For example, I will get the same water from the same tap etc. so that there are no changes in the controlled variables.

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Apparatus:                                                     Materials:

  • Stopwatch
  • Colorimeter
  • Variety of water baths
  • Number of test tubes
  • Beaker
  • Cork borer
  • White tile
  • Knife
  • Pipette
  • Test tube rack
  • Thermometer
  • Ruler

Method:

  1. “Place 5 labeled test tubes each containing 5cm(3) distilled water into water baths at 0°c, 20°c, 40°c, 60°c and 80°c. Leave for at least 5 minutes until the water reaches the required temperature.
  2. Cut sections from a single beetroot using a cork borer on a white tile. Cut five 1cm length slices from these sections.
  3. Place the slices ...

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