Merchant Taylors’ School

Biology A-Level
A2 Core Practical Workbook

Edexcel Specification
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 A2 Core Practicals
5.11 How to study the ecology of an area (see coursework)

5.17 How temperature affects the development of organisms

6.6 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

6.7 Electrophoresis

6.18 Which antibiotic is the most effective?

7.6 Investigating the rate of respiration

7.14 Spirometer and exercise

8.15 Habituation to a stimulus

Some key expressions:

Control Variable: A factor that is kept constant so that its

effects on the dependent variable are
consistent throughout all experiments

Independent Variable: The factor that affects the dependent

variable. The factor you change.

Dependent Variable: The factor that is affected by the

independent variable. The factor you
measure.

Reliability: The same results are recorded if the

experiment is repeated. Standard deviation
and / or standard error are an excellent
measures of reliability.

Accuracy: There is little difference between your

results and the recorded “true” results

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Validity: A combination of accuracy and reliability.
Valid results are representative and can be
used to make accurate predictions.

Random Error: A mistake in the method or malfunction in

the equipment which leads to the production
of a single anomalous result, inconsistent
with the trend. Once spotted, a random
error should be either repeated or ignored.

Systematic Error: Usually down to an uncontrolled factor, a

systematic error affects the entire
experiment, usually shifting the results by a
consistent amount each experiment.
Systematic errors always produce
inaccurate results, but in some cases the
data produced may still be reliable; and, as a
trend may still be observable, valid to a
degree.

Null Hypothesis: The opposite of your working hypothesis: i.e.

that the independent variable has no effect
on the dependent variable. You aim to
disprove this hypothesis in your experiment.

Experimental Hypothesis: Your working hypothesis that the

independent variable does have an effect on
the dependent variable. By disproving the
Null Hypothesis you can accept your
Experimental Hypothesis1.

1
Note: it is virtually impossible to prove something correct, yet very simple to prove something
incorrect. Therefore, scientists aim to disprove their Null Hypothesis, which then allows them to accept
their Experimental Hypothesis according to the principle of Occam’s Razor.

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 How Science Works

Part of Biology A-level is an assessment of “How science works”- an

overview of the scientific process, neatly summarized into 12
criteria. You can be asked questions relating to these criteria in any
written paper, so look at them carefully!

Each Core Practical has been designed to introduce you to some of

these criteria. As you complete the practicals you should make a
note in the table of which criteria the practical meets.

Criteria Learning Outcome Practical

1) Use theories, models and a) Explain how the development of
ideas to develop and modify scientific theories involves
scientific explanations hypothesizing, collecting and
interpreting data and using
creative thinking

b) Explain the importance of

modeling as a way of developing
scientific understanding
2) Use knowledge and a) Distinguish between questions
understanding to pose that science can address, and
scientific questions, define those which science cannot
scientific problems, present address
scientific arguments and
b) Identify scientific questions or
scientific ideas
problems within a given context

c) Apply scientific theories to

answer scientific questions or
address scientific problems
3) Use appropriate Justify methods, techniques and
methodology, including ICT, processes used during scientific
to answer scientific investigations, including use of
questions and solve ICT, to collect valid and reliable
scientific problems data and produce scientific
theories for a chosen question or
problem

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 Criteria Learning Outcome Practical
4) Carry out experimental Produce a risk assessment before
and investigative activities, carrying out a range of practical
including appropriate risk work
management, in a range of
contexts
5) Analyse and interpret a) Analyze data including use of;
data to provide evidence,
- Descriptive statistics (mean,
recognizing correlations and
mode and median, error bars, SD,
causal relationships
identification of outliers and
range)

- Graphic representation to
identify patterns and
relationships (e.g. correlation and
cause)

b) Interpret data with reference

to the methods of the analysis
used
6) Evaluate methodology, Evaluate the validity of
evidence and data, and inferences made from data in
resolve conflicting evidence terms of the methods, techniques
and processes used to collect and
analyze the data, recognizing any
systematic or random errors
present or conflicting evidence
7) Appreciate the tentative Explain how scientific theories
nature of scientific are developed, refined, supported
knowledge or refuted as new data or new
interpretations of data become
available
8) Communicate information Present scientific information
and ideas in appropriate using text, graphics and other
ways using appropriate media as appropriate using
terminology scientific terminology with
reference to data and credible
sources

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 Criteria Learning Outcome Practical
9) Consider applications and a) Evaluate activities in terms of
implications of science and their associated benefits and
appreciate their associated risks to humans, other organisms
benefits and risks and the environment

b) Discuss the risk associated

with an activity in terms of the
actual level of the risk and its
potential consequences,
associated uncertainties, and the
factors affecting people’s
perception of the risk
10) Consider ethical issues a) Identify ethical issues arising
in the treatment of humans, from the application of science as
other organisms and the it impacts on humans, other
environment organisms and the environment

b) Discuss scientific solutions

from a range of ethical viewpoints
11) Appreciate the role of a) Discuss the importance of
the scientific community in critical evaluation of new data or
validating new knowledge new interpretations of data which
and ensuring integrity challenge established scientific
theories or propose new theories

b) Describe how the process of

communication through journals
and conferences and peer reviews
contributes to the validation of
new scientific theories by the
scientific community
12) Appreciate the ways in Discuss how science influences
which society uses science decisions on an individual, local,
to inform decision-making national or international level

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 5.17 How temperature affects development of Seedlings

Temperature affects the rate of enzyme controlled reactions.

Remind yourself how by looking this work up (your AS notes will
help) and then filling in the spaces below:
Optimum temp

A) B)

Explanation of A Explanation of B

In this experiment we will investigate the effect of temperature on

the activity of enzymes in potatoes. The idea is that in order for
the potato to develop properly, the enzymes inside it need to be at
the right temperature. We will examinine how the activity of the
enzyme catalase (inside potato cells) is effected by temperature.

Catalase
2H202 O2 + 2H2O

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 Method:

1. Cut a cylinder of potato using a cork borer

2. Cut the cylinder to a standard length (e.g. 2cm)
3. Set up a boiling tube, delivery tube and gas syringe as shown
in the diagram below

Figure 1 An example of apparatus set up to measure the volume of gas evolved.

4. Place the boiling tube in a waterbath at 20°C to acclimatise

5. Add the potato cylinder to the boiling tube
6. Add 5cm3 ofH2O2 solution (20vol conc)
7. Record the cumulative volume of gas emitted every 15s for
3min
8. Repeat the process for the same temperature and calculate
the mean gas emitted for each interval
9. Repeat the experiment for a range of different temperatures
10. Use your data to fill in the table and plot a suitable graph

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 Cumulative volume of gas emitted per time / cm3
Temperature 0s 15s 30s 45s 60s 75s 90s 105s 120s 135s 150s 165s 180s
1

Av

Av

Av

Av

Av
Trends:

Explanation of the trends:

Questions

1. What risks were present in this experiment?

2. What implications does this have for germination of seeds?

3. What impact might global warming have on this?

4. What other organisms’ development is affected by temperature?

5. What second organism are you specifically asked about in your

syllabus?

Extension 1: Are all organisms adapted to have an optimum temp at

~40°C?

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 6.6 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Add DNA Sample

Heat to 95°C

Add Free Nucleotides

Add DNA Primers

Cool to 37°C

Pause for 1min

Add Taq Polymerase

Heat to 72°C

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Questions

1. What is the purpose of PCR?

2. When is PCR commonly used?

3. Why heat to 95°C?

4. What are the primers for (and what’s a primer)?

5. Why cool to 37°C?

6. Why heat to 72°C?

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The Forensic Science Service use PCR to produce millions of copies
of the STR fragments used in producing a DNA profile. Work
through the interactive tutorial on the polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) which accompanies this activity and use the A2 textbook to
help you complete the following exercise.

1. The enzyme Taq Polymerase is only added during the first PCR
cycle, but continues to catalyse DNA replication through many
cycles. Considering the treatment of the DNA during PCR,
what property does polymerase show that is unusual for an
enzyme?

2. Where does Taq Polymerase come from?

3. What feature of a DNA molecule ensures accurate replication

of the strands during each PCR cycle?

4. Explain how PCR has revolutionised criminal investigations.

5. The graph in Figure 1 shows the potential number of copies of

DNA produced during PCR. Use your understanding of the
process to explain how so many copies can be produced in
relatively few cycles.

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Use this page for your answers:

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 6.7 Electrophoresis

Electrophoresis is the technique used to separate lots of pieces of DNA of

different sizes.

For example, if we wish to cut out a

gene from a length of DNA we use a
restriction enzyme. However, the
restriction enzyme may cut the
length of DNA in lots of places,
producing lots of pieces of DNA. How
can we select the piece with the gene
in?

Answer: Use electrophoresis

DNA is made from nucleotides joined
together by the sugar- phosphate
backbone.

Each nucleotide contains;

The phosphate group (PO42-) is strongly negatively charged. This means DNA
will be repulsed from negatively charged things. This is the central idea
between electrophoresis.
Pieces of DNA are placed in a well
Well Large DNA
(hole) at one end of a sheet of agar
fragments

- jelly. A strong current is passed

through the agar (the well is next
to the negative electrode)
Which
fragment The DNA is repulsed from the
contains negative electrode and begins to
the gene? move away through the agar fibres.
Small pieces of DNA can move

+ Small DNA
quickly through the fibres and
move further. Large pieces get
stuck easily & don’t get far.
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fragments
Questions

1. What is a restriction enzyme?

2. What is the purpose of electrophoresis?

3. Where is electrophoresis used commonly?

4. When are gene probes used in electrophoresis?

5. What is Southern Blotting?

6. What techniques are available to make DNA visible?

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Electrophoresis Kit:

You may well use an electrophoresis kit to demonstrate the theory

on the previous pages. If you do, use these pages to take notes and
answer any questions set by your teacher.

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 6.18 Which antibiotic is the most effective?

When a bacterial infection is diagnosed

antibiotics may be prescribed. Different You need
antibiotics are not equally effective against all ● Agar plate seeded with known
bacteria
bacteria, so the correct antibiotic must be
● Sterile Pasteur pipette
selected for a particular bacterial infection. ● Bunsen burner
In some cases the most effective antibiotic is ● Beaker of disinfectant, 1%
known, but in other cases tests need to be Virkon or equivalent
● Bench spray of disinfectant, 1%
carried out by a pathology department. In this Virkon or equivalent
activity you will be testing the effectiveness ● Bactericidal soap
of several types of antibiotics on bacteria. ● Paper towels
● Marker pen
The standard method of doing this is to put ● Forceps
discs of blotting paper soaked in the various ● Mast ring or antibiotic-
antibiotics onto an agar plate that has been impregnated paper discs
● Adhesive tape
inoculated with the bacteria. Alternatively a
● Incubator set at 30 °C
mast ring (a ring of paper with several ‘arms’,
each treated with a different antibiotic) can
be used.

Safety
Wear eye protection.
The microorganisms are a potential biological hazard. Use aseptic
techniques when transferring the bacteria to the Petri dishes. Clean the
bench with antibacterial
disinfectant. Do NOT open the Petri dishes once they have been incubated.

Procedure
1 Wash your hands with the bactericidal soap. Spray the working
area thoroughly with the disinfectant spray and wipe with a
paper towel after waiting for the disinfectant to act (10 minutes
with Virkon, longer with other disinfectants).

2 Prepare an agar plate seeded with bacteria. This may have

already been done for you. Label the Petri dish on the base at
the edge with your name, the date, and the type of bacterium it
is inoculated with.

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3 Sterilise the forceps by flaming them and allow to cool. Use them
to pick up an antibiotic disc or mast ring. Raise the lid of the
Petri dish and place the mast ring firmly in the centre of the
agar; if individual discs are used they will need to be spaced
evenly around the dish.

4 Tape the dish securely with two pieces of adhesive tape (but do
not seal it completely), then incubate it upside down for 48 hours
at 30 °C.

5 Wash your hands with bactericidal soap and clean the bench
again using the Virkon spray.

6 After incubation, look carefully at the plate but do not open it.
Where bacteria have grown, the plate will look opaque, but where
the antibiotics have inhibited growth, clear areas called
inhibition zones will be seen. Measure the diameter of the
inhibition zones in millimetres and use this information to decide
which antibiotic is most effective at inhibiting the growth of the
bacterium.

7 Collect data from other members of the class who used the
other bacterial cultures.

8 Complete the table overleaf by collating the class data

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 Table:

Diameter of Ring / mm
Antibiotic 1 2 3 4 5 6 Average

Questions

1 What factors determine the diameter of the inhibition zones?

2 Why were you told to incubate the plates at 30°C when human
body temperature is 37°C?

3 If you were working in a hospital laboratory, and you had just

carried out this test on bacteria isolated from sick patients, would
you always choose the antibiotic that gave the biggest inhibition
zone? Are there any other factors you would need to consider?

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 7.6 Investigating the rate of respiration

The rate of respiration is proportional to the volume of O2 used per

unit time. This can be measured using a simple respirometer (see
below)

syringe scale

three-way tap

glass tubing

3
1 cm pipette or glass tube coloured liquid

small organisms

gauze

soda lime

Figure 1 A simple respirometer using a boiling tube.

However, this kind of respirometer leaks frequently and is

notoriously difficult to get useful data from. Therefore, we are
going to do a similar experiment using a spirometer.

The spirometer is essentially a fixed volume chamber floating in a

bath of water. Every time we breathe in the total volume of the
chamber decreases and every time we breathe out the volume
increases. By attaching a pen to the chamber, we can get a
qualitative recording of the volume of air in our lungs at any time.

For safety reasons the chamber is filled with pure O2. Every time
we inhale we breathe in 100% O2 and then breathe out ~95% O2 and
~5% CO2. CO2 is poisonous in high concentration, so the CO2 is
removed from the exhaled air by a soda lime scrubber. This means
that the total volume of the spirometer falls slowly in proportion to
the volume of O2 used per unit time.

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 A simple diagram of a
spirometer

Some Definitions:

Total Lung Capacity = Vital Capacity + Residual Volume

Total Lung Capacity:

Vital Capacity:

Residual Volume:

Before we can record the volume of O2 used per minute we need to calibrate
the spirometer. What does this means and why do we do it?

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Stick a copy of the spirometer chart here and use it to answer the questions on the next page
Questions

1. How many small vertical squares represent one litre (use the
initial calibrations)?

2. How many small horizontal squares represent one minute (use

the initial calibrations)?

3. By calculating the gradient of the spirometer chart, give the

metabolic consumption of oxygen per minute?

4. Calculate the minute volume for the first minute of the

recording

5. How might the spirometer chart be different for a long-term

smoker?
 7.14 Spirometer and exercise

The following spirometer trace was produced for a student at rest

(bottom line) and during exercise (top line)

Figure 2 Spirometer chart: top trace = after exercise; bottom trace = before exercise.

The three dots above the upper trace are the calibration dots: the
first dot, the lowest of the three, is the baseline level recorded
before any oxygen is added, the second dot is after adding 1 dm3
oxygen to the chamber within the spirometer, and the third dot is
after adding another 1 dm3 oxygen. The chart recorder was set at
0.5 cm s–1. (NB 1 dm3 is the same as 1 litre; 1 dm3 = 1000 cm3.)

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Questions

1. Use the trace in the figure to find the effect that exercise had
on breathing volume and rate. Suggest and explanation for your
findings

2. If you were asked to investigate other changes to the body during

exercise, what other factors could you measure easily?

3. Spirometers are used to calculate a subject’s BMR from the

amount of oxygen consumed in a given time. Explain why it would be
difficult to measure your own BMR in this way during a biology
lesson

Extension:

What is the Respiratory Quotient? How is this measure useful to

scientists?

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 8.15 Habituation to a stimulus

Many people will have touched a snail in the garden and noticed that
it immediately withdraws its eye stalks. For such a slow-moving
animal this seems a very quick response. This suggests that it is
important for protection and survival. A snail only withdraws when it
is either inactive or threatened. When touched, it withdraws to
avoid danger. Do snails become habituated to the stimulus, ceasing
to withdraw with repeated stimulation? In this investigation you will
collect data to find out if habituation to a touch stimulus does occur
in these organisms.

Safety
Wash your hands thoroughly after touching the snails, once all the
equipment has been put ready for disinfection.
Take care that the stimulus causes no harm to the snails.

Procedure

You need
● One giant African land snail (or a
garden snail if not available)
● One dampened cotton wool bud
● A suitable clean, firm surface for the
snails (e.g. a plastic chopping board)
● A stopwatch

A B

Figure 1 A giant African land snail with eye stalks

A extended and B retracted.

Method:

1. Collect one giant African land snail and place it on a clean,

firm surface. Wait for a few minutes until the snail has fully
emerged from its shell (Figure 1A) and is used to its new
surroundings.
2. Dampen a cotton wool bud with water.

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 3. Firmly touch the snail between the eye stalks with the
dampened cotton wool bud and immediately start the
stopwatch. Measure the length of time between the touch and
the snail being fully emerged from its shell once again, with
its eye stalks fully extended.
4. Repeat the procedure in step 3 for a total of ten touches,
timing how long the snail takes to re-emerge each time.
5. Record your results in the table below and plot a suitable
graph

Table:

Touch number Time between touch and the snail being fully emerged / sec

10

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Graph:

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Questions

1. Write a hypothesis which this experiment will test

2. Using your graph, state whether you think there is a positive,

negative or no correlation between the number of stimulations and
the time for eye stalk withdrawal.

3. Explain any patterns or trends in your data, supporting your ideas

with evidence from the data and your biological knowledge of
habituation. Relate your findings to your hypothesis.

4. Suggest a reason why snails may become habituated to a prodding

stimulus in the wild.

5. This experiment has been shown to be less successful if the snails

are handled regularly prior to the experiment. Suggest why
handling prior to the experiment could affect the results of the
experiment.

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Core Practical Revision
There will definitely be at least one question on each A2 paper
about a core practical. Questions tend to fall into two categories;

1. Outline a method you could use to test… (i.e. write out the
method for a core practical).

2. Analyze data from a practical…

The second type of question relies both on your ability to think like
a scientist on the spot and also on your working knowledge of the
theory behind each practical, so make sure you know exactly why
the IV causes the DV to change as it does.

The first type of question is more difficult. However, there are

always marks available for the following;

1. Specific Procedure or Method

2. Specific Equipment
3. Safety & Risk
4. Controlled Factors you kept constant
5. A Control for comparison
6. Repeats & taking an Average
7. Stated Range

One way of remembering this is the mnemonic MERC CAR, like this
one

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 As you progress through the year try why not fill out the blank
revision cards below? That way you have a complete record of what
you need to learn in the summer before the summer!

One final comment for you to think about:

If you miss any of the Core Practicals this year it is

imperative that you catch up the work you have missed.
Arguably, they are more important than the theory you
complete in class because you know for certain that at
least one practical will appear on each paper, so each
practical has (in theory) ~ 1 in 4 chance of coming up.

See… important!

5.11 - How to study the ecology of an area (see coursework)

Method:

Equipment:

Risks:

Controlled factors:

Control for comparison:

Average:

Range:

Additional Notes:

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 5.17 - How temperature affects the development of organisms
Method:

Equipment:

Risks:

Controlled factors:

Control for comparison:

Average:

Range:

Additional Notes:

6.6 - Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

This practical is about procedure, so make notes here about what you did and why you did it…

Notes:

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 6.7 - Electrophoresis
This practical is about procedure, so make notes here about what you did and why you did it…

Notes:

6.18 - Which antibiotic is the most effective?

Method:

Equipment:

Risks:

Controlled factors: none

Control for comparison: none

Average:

Range: none

Additional Notes:

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 7.6 - Investigating the rate of respiration
Method:

Equipment:

Risks:

Controlled factors:

Control for comparison:

Average:

Range:

Additional Notes:

7.14 - Spirometer and exercise

This practical is about procedure, so make notes here about what you did and why you did it…

Notes:

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 8.15 - Habituation to a stimulus
Method:

Equipment:

Risks:

Controlled factors:

Control for comparison:

Average:

Range:

Additional Notes:

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