Life Science & Biology Projects

Question: What is The Structure of DNA?

To initially see how DNA is organized, form a model of it. This is a streamlined model of DNA, however, now it will give you the general image of how the sugars, phosphate groups, and bases all interface together to make the well known double helix state of DNA. You can make a DNA model out of an assortment of materials. In this experiment we will be using gummy bears to build a DNA model.

Materials Needed:

Mini marshmallows

Red and black hollow licorice sticks

Toothpicks

String

Gummy bears

Procedure:

1. Cut the red and black licorice sticks into one inch strips.
2. Make two equivalent lengths of licorice strands by threading the bits of licorice onto the string, exchanging the red and black pieces.
3. Assemble four unique shades of gummy bears, marshmallows, and toothpicks.
4. Combine two shades of the gummy bears together and after that match two different colors together. For instance, red and orange gummy sets could be matched together, green and yellow ones could be combined together.
5. Take a gummy bear and string it onto the toothpick. String the marshmallow onto the toothpick with the goal that it is in the focal point of the toothpick and alongside the gummy bear. String the reciprocal gummy bear onto the toothpick with the goal that it is by the marshmallow. You ought to now have a toothpick with a gummy bear marshmallow gummy bear focused on it.
6. Repeat step five to make more gummy bear marshmallow toothpicks, ensuring the gummy bears are coordinated with their correlative hues. Make the same number of these toothpicks as you have red pieces on one of your licorice strands.
7. Take one strand of licorice and begin appending the gummy bear marshmallow toothpicks to it, interfacing one of these toothpicks at each of the red pieces on the strand. At that point, take the second licorice strand and interface it to the opposite side of the toothpicks. Once more, associate the toothpicks to the red bits of licorice. You should wind up with a ladder with the red and black licorice stands making the sides of the ladder and the gummy bear marshmallow toothpicks making the rungs of the ladder.
8. Hold the candy ladder up and turn the top counterclockwise to add the twists to the ladder.

Result:

You have just made a candy model of a strand of DNA. The red licorice represents the sugar deoxyribose, the black licorice represents the phosphate groups, together they both represent the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA.

The gummy bears represent the bases that make the code of DNA. The four unique colors are utilized to represent the four distinct bases found in DNA: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). It doesn't generally make a difference in your model the amount of a base you utilize or where it is put in the strand, yet it is imperative that bases are matched up accurately: A with T and G with C. In genuine DNA, the order does make a difference as that decides what kind of life form it is and how it will behave.

The marshmallow in the middle of the gummy bears represents the hydrogen bonds connecting the bases. This is the time when the DNA strands begin to come apart as they replicate and where the new strand associates with the first strand. Twisting the ladder at the top in a counterclockwise heading gives the DNA model its actual shape; a right-handed double helix.

Question: Can You Breed Bacteria?

Bacteria are a fascinating type of microorganism that play a large role in our lives whether we like it or not. Try growing your own sample of bacteria while monitoring how it reproduces in a short space of time. Compare your original sample with others and get proof that bacteria truly are everywhere!

What You'll Need:

Procedure:

1. Prepare your petri dish of agar.

2. Using your cotton swab, swab a certain area of your house (i.e. collect a sample by rubbing the cotton swab on a surface of your choice).

3. Rub the swab over the agar with a few gentle strokes before putting the lid back on and sealing the petri dish.

4.Allow the dish to sit in a warm area for 2 or 3 days.

5. Check the growth of the bacteria each day by making an observational drawing and describing the changes.

6. Try repeating the process with a new petrie dish and swab from under your finger nails or between your toes.

7. Dispose of the bacteria by wrapping up the petrie dish in old newspaper and placing in the rubbish (don't open the lid).

Question: Does Tea Stain your Teeth?

Summary: Teeth are used for chewing and breaking down food in the mouth to help speed up the digestion process. Teeth are naturally white in color, but over time dark colored drinks like tea, coffee, and cola can stain teeth turning them yellow in color. In this experiment you will use egg shells to simulate the white color of teeth, and study how different liquids effect the color of the eggshells

.

Materials Needed:

(Any of The Materials Highlighted in Blue are Clickable Links for Purchasing)

Eggs (Hollowed out) use these instructions

Tea

Coffee

Cola

Three Plastic Beakers

Project Procedure:

1. Fill three separate beakers with coffee, tea, and cola.
2. Put at least one hollowed-out eggshell into each container.
3. Every day, fish them out and observe the progress of discoloration.
4. Take some photos of gradual changes. On the day when you really start to notice discoloration, note that day.
5. Record your results and compare the effects of the three liquids using a table like the one below.

Question: What is the Difference between Green Plants and Fungi?

Summary: Some kinds of vegetation contain sugars and some contain starches. The chemical indicator Benedict’s Solution identifies sugars, and iodine identifies starches. Learn how the presence of sugars and starches are different in green plants and in fungi.

Materials Needed:

(Any of The Materials Highlighted in Blue are Clickable Links for Purchasing)

Mushrooms from the grocery store

Iodine  

Sugar

Graduated Cylinder   

2-cup Clear Glass Measuring Cup

Benedict’s Solution

Paring Knife

Kitchen Stove

Small Saucepan

Green Leaves from a Tree or Bush

Scissors

Pen and Paper for Taking Notes

Project Procedure:

1. Slice a mushroom lengthwise. Using the eyedropper, place 8 – 10 drops of iodine on the interior surface of the sliced mushroom. Write down your observations about color changes.
2. Dice 4 or 5 small mushrooms into very small pieces. Put the diced mushrooms into a small saucepan with ¾ cup of water and 20 ml. of Benedict’s Solution. Bring the mushroom mixture to a boil and lower the heat to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a clear glass measuring cup. Record your observations about the color change.
3. Repeat the procedure in #2, using 8 – 10 green leaves instead of the mushrooms. Collect the leaves from a tree or bush and use them immediately. Using scissors, cut them into small pieces before covering them with the water and Benedict’s Solution. Continue by simmering the leaves as in #2, removing them from the heat, pouring them into a measuring cup, and recording your observations.