CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

GCE

Revised GCE
Biology
Practical Guidance Booklet
Practical Skills in AS Biology
AS 3
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

Introduction

The information provided here is intended to provide support for teachers delivering the revised CCEA
GCE Biology course (first teaching from September 2016).

For most practical tasks this guidance provides detailed background information rather than providing
a series of ‘recipe’ practical investigations (although these are included for some tasks). The internet
(for example, www.nuffieldfoundation.org) and many other sources provide additional information, in
carrying out ‘A’ level Biology tasks.

The evidence required for each task is listed at the end of each task.

Note: This document does not provide health and safety information for the safe carrying out of
practical tasks identified in the specification. It is the responsibility of teachers to ensure
that they and their students are aware of any health and safety issues that are relevant in
any particular task.

Using qualitative reagents to identify biological molecules

Substance Name of test Procedure Colour change if

positive result
Reducing sugars Benedict’s Add an equal volume of Benedict’s Blue to brick red
test reagent to the test solution and heat (precipitate)
Non-reducing Benedict’s • Hydrolyse sample by boiling with Blue to brick red
sugars test dilute hydrochloric acid (precipitate)
• Once cooled, neutralise by adding
sodium hydrogen carbonate
• Test with Benedict’s solution
Starch Iodine test Add iodine solution Yellow-brown to blue-
black
Protein Biuret test Add potassium hydroxide to the Blue to lilac/purple/
test sample then add a few drops of mauve
copper sulfate solution

Note: the Benedict’s test is partially quantitative. The Benedict’s reagent will change through the
sequence blue-green-yellow-orange-brick red, depending on how much reducing sugar is
present in the sample.

It is good practice to develop holistic biological skills when the opportunity arises. For example,
starch grains can be observed in a thin section of potato tissue. A thin section of potato is mounted
in water on a slide and a coverslip placed on top. Add a drop of iodine to the slide at the edge of the
coverslip. A piece of folded filter paper, or similar, at the other side of the coverslide is used to draw
the iodine across the slide staining the starch grains in the potato section as it does so.

Evidence: Table with details of tests outlined and results obtained for particular substances.
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

Paper chromatography of amino acids

Paper chromatography is a technique by which soluble compounds can be separated and identified.
Chromatography makes it possible to separate complex organic compounds such as mixtures of free
amino acids or plant pigments. It is also possible to separate and identify small quantities of the
solutes in an unknown mixture.

A drop or ‘spot’ of the solution containing the mixture of the solutes to be separated is ‘spotted’
repeatedly about 3-4 cm away from one end of the chromatography paper. The concentrated
‘spot’ is then allowed to dry. The end of the chromatography paper is placed in a suitable solvent,
making sure the ‘spot’ (usually placed on a pencil line ‘origin’) remains above the level of solvent.
To ensure the chromatography paper remains in place it is normally suspended from the lid of the
chromatography tank (or similar piece of apparatus).

The solvent flows up the paper dissolving and carrying the amino acids with it. The solvent flow is
allowed to continue until it approaches the top of the chromatogram. The paper is removed from the
tank, the solvent front is marked on the paper and then it is dried.

Once dried the chromatography paper (chromatogram) can be stained to observe the different amino
acids. The amino acids that are more soluble in the solvent travel further than those that are less
soluble, therefore achieving separation of the different amino acids.

Solvent front

Position of amino
acids

Concentrated
spot

Base line

Amino acids can be identified by their Rf value. The Rf value is the relative distance an amino acid has
moved relative to the solvent front and is calculated by dividing the distance a particular amino acid
has moved relative to the solvent front.

distance moved by amino acid

Rf =
distance moved by solvent front

An Rf value is always less than 1 and will be approximately the same for a particular amino acid in a
chromatogram when using a particular solvent.

Evidence: Table of results, copy (photograph) of chromatogram, and calculations of Rf values to

identify particular amino acids.
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

Enzyme investigations (any two investigations can be used)

(a) Investigating the effect of temperature, pH, substrate concentration and enzyme concentration
on enzyme activity.

There are many different enzyme practical investigations in use across CCEA centres and there is no
requirement to do any particular one or group of investigations.

A typical example is outlined below.

The effect of pH on the activity of trypsin

Background knowledge – The protein-digesting enzyme, trypsin, will hydrolyse the protein gelatine.
Gelatine is a major constituent of jelly. When a coloured jelly such as a strawberry-flavoured variety
is exposed to trypsin the red colour is released as the gelatine is broken down. The intensity of the
colouring released in different experimental tubes can be compared using a colorimeter.

Procedure:

• Label six boiling tubes 1-6

• Cut six 1 cm3 cubes of jelly

• Add 10 cm3 of 2% trypsin to each boiling tube

• Add 10 cm3 of the appropriate buffer to five of the boiling tubes and distilled water to the
remaining one

Boiling tube 1 2 3 4 5 6
pH of buffer 4 5 6 7 8 water

• Place the boiling tubes in a water bath at 25oC

• After 5 minutes add a cube of jelly to each of the boiling tubes 1 to 5

• After 24 hours remove a sample from tube 6 to act as a blank for the colorimeter. Using the
appropriate filter, set the percentage transmission on the colorimeter to 100%

• Shake the contents of boiling tube 1 and remove a sample, place in the colorimeter and record
the percentage transmission

• Repeat for the other boiling tubes 1 to 5

• Tabulate the results and use an appropriate graphical technique to present the results.

Evidence: For this and many other enzyme investigations a table and graph of results plus a brief
conclusion describing and explaining the results is appropriate.
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

(b) Demonstrate enzyme immobilisation

Beta-galactosidase (lactase) is an enzyme that breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose.
Pouring milk (containing lactose) through a column of immobilised beta-galactosidase will result in
the enzyme breaking down the lactose into glucose and galactosidase.

Procedure:

• Add 8 cm3 of sodium alginate solution (2%) to a small beaker

• Add 2 cm3 of beta-galactosidase (lactase) to the beaker

• Add one drop of food colouring – this allows the reaction to be seen more clearly

• Mix thoroughly but keep bubbles to a minimum

• Draw this mixture into the barrel of a 10 cm3 plastic syringe

• Add 1.5g of calcium chloride to 100 cm3 of distilled water in 250 cm3 beaker

• Add the enzyme mixture dropwise from the syringe to the calcium chloride solution. Allow the
immobilised enzyme beads that start to form to harden for about 10 minutes. Remove the beads
and rinse thoroughly with water

• Rinse the syringe and remove the plunger and fix the barrel to a retort stand

• Place a small piece of gauze near the tip of the syringe to prevent the beads from blocking the
syringe nozzle

• Add the beads to the syringe

• Test the milk after it has been filtered through the beads with Clinistix or a similar specific test for
glucose.

Milk (containing lactose)

Lactose in alginate
beads
Barrel of syringe

Gauze to stop
beads blocking tip

Milk with glucose

and galactose

Evidence: An outline method, description of results and a conclusion explaining the results.
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

Using a colorimeter to follow the course of a starch-amylase catalysed reaction

A colorimeter measures the change of light intensity as it passes through a solution. Colorimeters can
record the amount of light that is absorbed (absorbance) by the solution or the amount of light that
passes through (transmission). The light that is not absorbed by the sample passes on to the photo-
sensitive cell and this is converted into a digital readout.

It is important to calibrate the colorimeter. For example, if the colorimeter is going to follow the
course of amylase breaking down starch to maltose, a weak solution of iodine could be calibrated as
the end-point or ‘blank’, (100% transmission).

When following the course of a starch-amylase catalysed reaction, a red filter is usually used as this
maximises the percentage transmission/absorbance change over the course of the investigation.

Calibration graph - In investigations using a colorimeter it is often necessary to produce calibration

graphs (curves) if the investigation will involve calculating specific quantities of a substance. A
calibration graph can then be drawn that will allow colorimeter readings to be expressed in terms of
substance concentrations.

The stages in producing a calibration graph involve:

• starting with a known ‘standard’ or ‘stock’ concentration of substance, for example starch

• making a range of starch concentrations using serial dilutions

• measuring the % transmission (or % absorbance) for each of these values

• plotting a graph with % transmission on the Y-axis and starch concentration on the X-axis

Serial dilutions – In serial dilutions each solution is less concentrated than the previous one by a set
factor. For example, when using a dilution factor of 10 (each solution is ten times less concentrated
than the previous one) 1 cm3 of the solution is added to 9 cm3 water and so on as shown in the
following diagram.
9cm3 9cm3 9cm3 9cm3 9cm3
1cm3 water water water water water

1cm3 1cm3 1cm3 1cm3

10cm3
1% starch
solution

1% starch 0.1% starch 0.01% starch 0.001% 0.0001% 0.00001%

solution solution solution starch starch starch
solution solution solution
Stock 1 1 1 1 1
solution 10 100 1000 10000 100000

Serial starch dilutions

CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

Evidence: A table and graph of results plus a brief conclusion describing and explaining the results.

Using a colorimeter to investigate the effect of a factor, for example,

temperature, on the permeability of cell-surface membranes in beetroot

Beetroot contains the pigment betalain that gives it the characteristic dark red-purple colour. Intact
beetroot placed in water will not lead to a colour change in the water. However, if some of the cell-
surface membranes in the beetroot tissue are damaged, red pigment will seep out of the cells and the
water then will turn red. The more damage to the tissue the more the colour change in the water.
Procedure:

• Cut several small sections of beetroot of equal size using a cork borer

• Rinse the beetroot in water until the water remains clear

• Set up a number of water baths at, e.g. 20oC, 40oC, 60oC, 80oC

• Add 10 cm3 of water to each of 5 test tubes and place one in each water bath for 5 minutes to
allow the temperature of the water to equilibrate

• Place a section of surface-dried beetroot in each of the test tubes

• Leave in the water bath for 10 minutes

• Set up a colorimeter using a blue/blue-green filter. Calibrate distilled water as 0 absorbance

(or 100% transmission)

• After the 10 minutes, sample the water surrounding the beetroot sections and check its
absorbance (or transmission) for each temperature

• Add the results to an appropriate results table and draw a graph of % absorbance
(or transmission) against temperature

• Explain your results.

Evidence: A table and graph of results plus a brief conclusion describing and explaining the results.
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

Using a graticule and stage micrometer in measuring cell size at both low and
high powers

This involves using a special eyepiece lens that contains a scale to measure cell length. The
eyepiece scale (graticule) needs to be calibrated before measurements are made. To do this a stage
micrometer (a special slide that has a calibrated scale of known length on its upper surface) is used.

Many stage micrometers are 1 mm in length and have their scale divided into 100. Therefore each
unit on the stage micrometer = 10 micrometres (µm), as each division is 1 mm (1000 micrometres)
divided by 100.

Some stage micrometers have a scale 1 cm in length (not 1 mm) but the principle of calibration is the
same. In a 1 cm stage micrometer scale, each small division is 100 µm.

Calibrating at low and high power

Calibrating at low / mid power (for example, x 100) - with the eyepiece graticule and stage
micrometer in place, align the two scales so that the left edges of each scale (the 0 values) are
superimposed. Then check for a position where the divisions of each scale are overlapping further
along the scales.

Stage micrometer

Eyepiece graticule

Calibrating the eyepiece graticule at low power

Diagram info – the top of both scales are aligned, each scale is divided into 100 units with major
subdivisions every ten and a minor one every five. In this diagram the end of the stage micrometer is
exactly level with the 94th division in the eyepiece graticule
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

The smallest divisions in the eyepiece graticule are often referred to as Small Eyepiece Units (SEUs).
In the above diagram, 100 SEUs are equal to 94 divisions on the stage micrometer.
If the stage micrometer is 1 mm in length, then each division is 10 micrometers.

Therefore 1 SEU = 94 x 10 / 100 = 9.4 µm.

Calibrating at high power (for example, x 400) When calibrating at high power the stage micrometer
will be magnified much more and the full length of the scale will no longer be visible within the field
of view.
Stage micrometer

Eyepiece graticule

Calibrating the eyepiece graticule at high power

Diagram instructions – adjust the left hand scale slightly so that the 26th small division lines up with
the end of the smaller scale. As before the top end of the two scales align.

In the diagram showing calibration at high power, 100 SEUs = 26 divisions on the stage micrometer
(with each division on the stage micrometer = 10 µm).

Therefore 1 SEU = 26 x 10 / 100 = 2.6 µm

Once the calibration is complete, remove the stage micrometer and replace with a slide containing
the specimen that contains the cells to be measured.
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

The following diagram shows how to measure cell width after the eyepiece graticule has been
calibrated.
View at x100 of a plant tissue through an eyepiece containing
a graticule scale

View at x400 of a plant tissue through an eyepiece containing

a graticule scale

Using the eyepiece graticule to measure cell length

Where possible cell measurements should be calculated at high power (rather than low/medium
power) as it is more precise/accurate.

In the HP diagram the width of the cell is (approx.) 31 SEUs.

Therefore the cell width is 31 x 2.6 µm = 80.6 µm.

Evidence: Calculations of calibrations using the stage micrometer and eyepiece graticule and the
subsequent measurement of cells using the calibrated values.
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

Osmosis investigations

Measuring the average water potential of cells in plant tissue

There are many plant tissues, for example, potato and carrot, that can be used in this investigation.
A typical procedure is described below:

• Add a range of sucrose solutions (and water) to separate beakers

• Cut cylinders of potato and weigh

• Add a cylinder to each beaker

• After 24 hours remove the potato and reweigh

• The percentage change in mass should be calculated for the cylinder in each solution

• Plot the percentage change in mass against sucrose solution

• Where the line of best fit crosses the X-axis, the water potential in the potato is equal to the
solute potential of the sucrose solution

• The solute potential of the sucrose solution at the point of intercept can be calculated from a
conversion table.

Evidence: A table and graph of results plus a brief conclusion describing and explaining the results.

Measuring the average solute potential of cells at incipient plasmolysis

When a cell is at incipient plasmolysis the cell-surface membrane is just making contact, and no more,
with the cell wall. Theoretically there is no pressure being exerted on the cell wall. Therefore, the
solute potential of the cell is the same as its water potential.

In reality, it is impossible to judge when a cell is exactly at incipient plasmolysis so a point where 50%
of cells are turgid and 50% plasmolysed is taken as a compromise.

Procedure:

• Add sections of onion epidermal tissue to pure water to make sure all the onion cells are turgid

• Place sections of the onion epidermal cells in beakers, with each beaker containing either water or
one of a range of sucrose solutions

• Leave the epidermal tissue in the beakers for 30 minutes

• After 30 minutes remove the onion epidermal tissue and place on a microscope slide
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

• Observe the onion tissue under the microscope and calculate the percentage of cells that are
plasmolysed for each solution

• Draw a graph of percentage plasmolysis against sucrose solution. Use the graph to identify the
point at which 50% of the cells are plasmolysed. At this point the average solute potential of the
onion cells is the same as the solute potential of the sucrose. The solute potential of the sucrose
at that concentration can be calculated from a conversion table.

Evidence: A table and graph of results plus a brief conclusion describing and explaining the results.

Preparing and staining root tip squashes to observe mitosis

Many species of plants can be used for this investigation, but the root tips of broad beans are a good,
and relatively easy to manipulate, source to use.

Harvest broad beans 7 – 10 days after planting in a seed tray. By this stage the beans will have
germinated and the young shoots will have extended through the top of the soil. Short lateral roots
about 1 cm in length growing out from the main tap root are the best to use for observing mitosis.

Procedure:

• Add a small section of root containing lateral roots to a boiling tube containing acetic orcein

• place the boiling tube in a water bath at 60 oC for 30 minutes

• after 30 minutes remove a section of root from the boiling tube and use a scalpel to remove the
last few mm or so from one of the lateral roots. Add this short section to a microscope slide and
add more acetic orcein if necessary to stop the root tip from drying out

• add a cover slip and gently tap with a blunt end of a pointed needle. This will ‘squash’ the root tip
into a single layer of cells

• observe under a microscope.

Other staining techniques - there are many different techniques used to stain chromosomes and
prepare root tip squashes for observing mitosis. Using toluidine blue with garlic tips works well.
Common features between each process are that the chromosomes are stained and that part of the
procedure used softens / breaks up the root tissue allowing it to be easily ‘squashed’ into a single
layer.

Finding cells undergoing mitosis - using low / medium power (for example, x100), scan the root tip
section and look for the zone of division. Cells in the zone of division are characteristically small and
cuboidal in shape with the nucleus appearing relatively large. Once the zone of division is located
switch to high power (x400) to observe cells at different stages of mitosis.
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

© Science Photo Library 2016

The photograph shown shows cells undergoing mitosis. The cell top-right of centre is in metaphase
and the cell lower-right of centre is in late anaphase / telophase. Note the large nucleus / cell size
ratio as is typical of cells undergoing mitosis.

Drawing cells undergoing mitosis - select a group of two or three cells together, including at least one
that is undergoing mitosis and draw.

Evidence: Drawings of cells undergoing mitosis as seen through the microscope.

Completing accurate block diagrams of sections of the ileum or a leaf observed

under the microscope.

Block diagrams need to accurately represent the microscope view or the photograph used. They do
not need detail of individual cells.

Good block diagrams:

• have all the obvious (tissue) layers included

• have layers added in the correct proportions

• have continuous (not sketchy) lines

• have labels as appropriate.

Evidence: A block diagram of a section through the ileum or leaf meeting the above requirements
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

Dissecting a mammalian heart

External anatomy – the major blood vessels are at the top of the heart and the coronary arteries run
diagonally down the heart from the base of the aorta.

The pulmonary artery and aorta are very close to each other at the very top of the heart:

• The aorta is the larger of the two vessels. The pulmonary artery is adjacent to the aorta but is
smaller with thinner walls.

• The two vena cava often appear more like flaps rather than discrete blood vessels, when they are
cut close to the heart. One returns blood from the upper part of the body and the other returns
blood from the lower part of the body. These are on the top right hand side of the heart (top left
as you examine it assuming the front of the heart is facing you) with the vena cava coming from
the lower part of the body being slightly lower and further back in the heart

• The pulmonary vein is on the top left of the heart (top right as you examine it).

The internal anatomy - to examine the heart’s anterior it is necessary to make incisions (cuts) with a
scalpel or dissecting scissors through the ventral (front) wall from the top of each atrium to the base
of the ventricle:

• From the position of the right atrium cut through the heart wall down through the right atrium
and right ventricle. Keep the cut as close as possible to the septum. After making the cut pull the
two sides apart to expose the two heart chambers on the right side of the heart

• It should be possible to identify the papillary muscles, the chordae tendinae (‘heartstrings’) and
the tricuspid valve (an atrio-ventricular valve) – seen as three tissue flaps

• Identify the origin of the pulmonary artery, leading out of the right ventricle, and follow it up,
cutting as necessary, until you find the semilunar valves

• Repeat for the left side of the heart. The bicuspid valve, the atrio-ventricular valve on the left side
of the heart has only two flaps

• Identify the origin of the aorta, leading out of the right ventricle, and follow it up until you find the
semilunar valves.

Evidence: A labelled diagram of the external view of the heart and a labelled diagram or
photograph of the dissected heart
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet

Sampling techniques (in the field), including measuring abiotic or biotic factors
(up to two investigations may be counted).

Candidates are expected to be familiar with a range of qualitative and quantitative techniques used to
investigate the distribution and relative abundance of plants and animals in a habitat.

Sampling

There are several ways to estimate the amount, or abundance, of organisms present in a particular
habitat. The abundance of organisms can be estimated in terms of:

• Density – the number of individuals present – usually sampled using quadrats and the most
common way of sampling animals.

• Percentage cover – usually for plants as it is often difficult to distinguish between individual
plants.

• Frequency – species are recorded as being present or absent at a particular sampling point.
Percentage frequency indicates the percentage of all quadrats or sampling points that a species
occurs in; pin frames are often used when recording frequency.

Types of sampling

Random sampling - if the area to be sampled is uniform or if there is an absence of any clear pattern
in species distribution, then random sampling is appropriate.

Systematic sampling - systematic sampling should be used when there appears to be zonation / clear
transition from one habitat type to another, for example, up a rocky shore. The sampling takes place
along a line or transect.

There are a number of different types of transect used in systematic sampling:

• Line transect – sampling continually or at intervals (for example, every 5 m) along a transect line,
for example a tape. Only individuals actually touching the transect line are counted.

• Belt transect – sampling along a transect line using quadrats rather than the tape itself.

• Interrupted belt transect – sampling is at intervals along the overall ‘transect’ due to the large
distances involved, for example when sampling a large sand dune system running over a km or
more. Interrupted belt transects are several belt transects at intervals within an overall transect.

Biotic and abiotic factors

Abiotic factors are non-living or physical factors, for example, soil moisture, soil organic content, soil
temperature, soil pH, and light intensity. Factors that relate to the soil are called edaphic factors.
Biotic factors are factors linked to living organisms. These include competition from other organisms
and grazing.
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Measuring abiotic factors

1. Soil moisture (water) content

Procedure:
• collecting a sample of soil using a soil borer or other appropriate apparatus
• weigh a sample of the soil and place in an oven and dry to a constant weight at 105 oC
• percentage soil moisture (water) content can be calculated using the formula:

[(initial soil mass – soil mass after drying) / initial soil mass] x 100%

2. Soil organic content

Procedure:
• place the oven-dried soil in a crucible and reweigh
• burn off the organic content (humus)
• allow to cool and reweigh
• percentage organic content can be calculated using the formula:

[(dry soil mass – soil mass after burning) / initial soil mass] x 100%

3. Soil pH

Soil pH can be measured using a soil testing kit (using indicator dyes) or using a pH electrode
attached to a digital meter.

4. Soil temperature

Soil temperature can be measured using special soil thermometers.

5. Light intensity

Light can be measured using a light meter. Often relative light intensity (for example, the light
reaching ground level in a particular habitat as a percentage of light reaching ‘open’ ground) is more
meaningful than absolute light intensity. This is measured as light intensity at ground level for a
sample point divided by the light intensity in the open (no shade) x 100. In the diagram below,

Woodland

X Y
Open Ground
Measuring light intensity as % daylight (no shade)
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percentage light intensity for the woodland floor can be calculated as (light intensity at X / light
intensity at Y) x 100%.

Sampling animals

Candidates should be familiar with the appropriate use of pitfall traps, sweep nets and pooters.

Evidence: Tables and graphs of an ecological investigation involving the use of sampling techniques
and the measurement of abiotic/biotic factors where appropriate.
CCEA Revised GCE Practical Support Booklet
© CCEA 2016