Ib Beetroot Lab 2017

The Permeability of the Beet Root Membrane
IB Biology SL
Performed: Due:
Foreword
Permeability of a cell to solutes in an aqueous solution depends upon the physical
and chemical make-up of the membrane. The maintenance of the living cell depends
upon the continued presence and functioning of a selectively permeable membrane.
If the nature of the membrane is altered in any way, this may affect it’s permeability
and thus the properties of the cell of which it is a part. Irreversible changes in the
permeability of the membrane usually lead to the death of the cell. In this
experiment, we will study the effects of changes in the environmental conditions on
the permeability of living beet root cells.
Roots of beet (Beta vulgaris ) contain large amounts of a reddish pigment called
betacyanin, localized almost entirely in the large central vacuoles of the cells.
Betacyanin in healthy cells remains inside the vacuoles, surrounded by a vacuolar
membrane called a tonoplast. The entire cell is surrounded by a cellular or plasma
membrane. Environmental stresses can damage the membranes, allowing
betacyanin to leak through the tonoplast and plasma membrane. This leakage of
betacyanin will produce a red colour in the water surrounding the stressed beet.
Thus the degree of membrane damage can be determined by monitoring the
intensity of the colour leakage resulting from a treatment.
Objectives
By the end of this investigation the student should be able to:
1. Describe the effect of temperature on the permeability of beet root tissue.
2. Relate the theory of membrane structure as considered in class, with the

observations made during this activity.
Introduction:
Discuss the structure of the cell membrane as it relates to its permeability. You may
use figures or diagrams if they will aid in illustrating this structure [all figure must
be numbered, titled and referred to in the text of your work]. Include relevant
research information concerning the affect of the experimental treatments on the
permeability of plasma membranes. When refering to facts which are not general
knowledge, use the MLA style to cite the source of the information [ i.e. The cell
membrane consists of protein molecules embedded in a phospholipid bilayer
(Bretscher, 1985)]. There is no word minimum. (4 marks)
Purpose: (2 marks)
Hypothesis: (2 marks)
Materials and Apparatus: (each group needs the following)

20 test tubes 2 - 250 ml beakers 1 thermometer
1 test tube holder 1 – 50 ml beaker 4 – 400 ml beakers
2 test tube rack beets 1 - 10 ml pipette
5 thermostatic water bath scalpel glass stirring rod
safety goggles watch/clock colorimeter
tap water 2 cuvettes GLX data recorder
Procedure: [Refer to the procedure below and make note of changes only] (2 marks)
Preparation of Beet Root Sections
With the aid of a scalpel, remove both top vegetative potion and the base of a beet
root (See Figure 1). Carefully bore out several cores of beet root tissue using a cork
borer. Use a scalpel to slice the cylindrical cores into 5 mm sections. You will need a
total of 3 sections for each temperature used in the lab. (Make every effort to cut the
sections accurately). All of the sections should be placed in a beaker of distlled water
at room temperature to remove the betacyanin from the injured cells on the surface.
Note:. There will be 5 water baths set at different temperatures (room

temperature ( ___° C), 30° C, 40° C, 50°C, and 60 ° C).
Work in groups of 5. One or two members of each group will
be responsible for for cutting the beet discs while the others
will measure 10.0 ml of distilled water at the appropriate
temperature into the labelled test tubes used. Two labelled test
tube (2 trials per day) are placed into each of the 5 water baths
for each group. Be sure that you can identify your groups test
tubes
Temperature Stress on a Membrane
1. Five water baths have been prepared at the following temperatures ( ___ ° C), 30° C,
40° C, 50°C, and 60 ° C).
2. Each water bath contains a 600 ml beaker filled with distilled water (this water is at
the same temperature as the water bath).
3. At each water bath use a pipette to measure 9.0 ml of distilled water into 2 labelled
test tubes (be sure the label clearly indicates your group and the temperature of the
water), and place the test tubes into one of the beakers in the water bath. Two test
tubes are used in order to perform 2 trials each day.
4. Place three (3) beetroot sections into each of the test tubes. Leave the beet tissue in
each water bath for 20 minutes. It is unlikely that you will be able to place the beet
discs into all the test tubes at the same time, so separate the time that each test tube
recieves the beet discs by a minute (or two). Keep track of the time so that each test
tube only remains in its water bath for 20 minutes.
5. After 20 minutes, remove each test tube from the water bath. Stir the solution to
disperse the dye. For each test tube, pour the liquid only into a new clean labelled
test tube leaving the beet discs in the first test tube. The beet discs are to be
discarded (in the garbage).
6. For the first test tube, pour approximately 5.0 ml of the room temperature solution
into a clean cuvette. The cuvette must be at least 80% full.
7. Using a colorimeter and a calibrated GLX data recorder, collect the absorbance
value for light of wavelength 565 nm (green) Refer to the procedure for using the
colorimeter on the white board.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the second test tube (trial 2)
9. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the test tubes in the other 4 water baths. At the end of day
one, you should have 2 trials (absorbance values) for each of the 5 temperatures.
10. On day two and three of the lab, repeat the procedure to obtain a total of 6 trials.
This lab will be assessed for Exploration, Analysis,

Evaluation and Communication; as well as the
Ontario Curriculum (see marking scheme)
IB - Permeability of Beet Root Lab – Rating Scale
Introduction: 0 1 2 3 4
Purpose: 0 1 2
Hypothesis: 0 1 2
Method: 0 1 2
Observations:
Raw Data Table: 0 1 2 3
Processed Data Table: 0 1 2 3
Scatter plot (Trend): 0 1 2 3 4
Conclusion 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Improvements: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Work cited: 0 1 2
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The Permeability of the Beet Root Membrane

1. Describe the effect of temperature on the permeability of beet root tissue.

2. Relate the theory of membrane structure as considered in class, with the

Materials and Apparatus: (each group needs the following)

Preparation of Beet Root Sections

Note:. There will be 5 water baths set at different temperatures (room

8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the second test tube (trial 2)

This lab will be assessed for Exploration, Analysis,

Raw Data Table: 0 1 2 3

Processed Data Table: 0 1 2 3

Scatter plot (Trend): 0 1 2 3 4

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