Biology Labs
Late Nite Labs Descriptions
Scientific Method
A review of the fundamentals of the scientific method and an
introduction to using Late Nite Labs simulations.
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WHF Textbook(s)
Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Cell Structure and Function
In this lab, students will study cell structure and learn the basic
differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
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Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Biological Molecules
In this lab, students will examine the composition of organic
molecules through basic chemical testing for
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Students will
then test for the presence of each of these components in
various food samples.
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Enzymes
In this lab, students will observe the importance of enzyme
activity in living organisms. students will test the effects of
environmental pH and temperature on the digestion of starch
by the enzyme amylase.
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Blei/Odian, General Organic and Biochemistry
Guinn/Brewer, Essentials of General Organic and
Biochemistry
Johll, Exploring Chemistry
Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Shuster et al, Scientific American Biology for a Changing
World
Blei/Odian, General Organic and Biochemistry
Shuster et al, Scientific American Biology for a Changing
World
Diffusion and Osmosis
In this lab, students will observe the processes of diffusion and
osmosis. students will use a model of a semi-permeable cell
membrane to examine how concentration affects rate of
diffusion.
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Cellular Respiration
In this lab, students will examine the process of cellular
respiration. Students will measure the rate of CO2 production
during anaerobic respiration in samples of yeast consuming
glucose, fructose, maltose, and maltotriose.
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Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Shuster et al, Scientific American Biology for a Changing
World
Photosynthesis
In this lab, students will study the process of photosynthesis and
the effects of environmental changes, such as light intensity and
temperature, on this process. They will do this by using different
techniques to measure the rate of photosynthesis in the aquatic
plant Elodea under various conditions.
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Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Shuster et al, Scientific American Biology for a Changing
World
Mitosis and Meiosis
In this lab, students will study the processes of mitosis and
meiosis by conducting experiments on onion root cells,
whitefish blastula, and cultured mammalian cells. They will use
the Radiance Virtual Microscope to examine these cells as they
undergo the different stages of mitosis and meiosis.
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Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Shuster et al, Scientific American Biology for a Changing
World
Genetics of Corn
In this lab, students is introduced to the principles of genetics
through experimentation on corn. Students will use the
monohybrid cross, the dihybrid cross, and the test-cross to
investigate the proportions of different phenotypes that result
from breeding corn.
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Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Shuster et al, Scientific American Biology for a Changing
World
DNA
In this lab, students will study the the structure of DNA as well
as various methods used for its examination, such as gel
electrophoresis. students will perform a paternity test as means
of comparing different DNA samples.
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Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Shuster et al, Scientific American Biology for a Changing
World
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Guinn/Brewer, Essentials of General Organic and
Biochemistry
Johll, Exploring Chemistry
Bacteria
In this lab, students will use Gram stains and classification by
shapes to identify the bacteria being studied. Students will also
perform disk diffusion tests to examine the impact of antibiotics
on bacterial growth.
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Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Shuster et al, Scientific American Biology for a Changing
World
Protists
In this lab, students will examine the different types of protists:
Excavata, Rhizaria, Chromalveolata, Plantae, and Unikonta.
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Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Shuster et al, Scientific American Biology for a Changing
World
Fungi
In this lab, students will examine the different types of fungi:
Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, and Zygomycota.
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Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Shuster et al, Scientific American Biology for a Changing
World
Plant Structure and Function
In this lab, students will review the plant kingdom, with a focus
on seed plants, and will examine the functional structures of
both Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.
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Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Shuster et al, Scientific American Biology for a Changing
World
Earthworm
In this lab, students will study the anatomy of the common
earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, as well as some of the
common terminology for discussing anatomy.
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Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Evolution
In this lab, students will study evolution by examining the
various anole lizards of the Caribbean. The lab explores adaptive
radiation, convergent evolution, sexual selection and
dimorphism, and behavioral evolution.
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Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Shuster et al, Scientific American Biology for a Changing
World
Ecology
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Phelan, What is Life? A Guide to Biology
Shuster et al, Scientific American Biology for a Changing
World