AP Biology

The egg lab demonstrated osmosis through using the egg's semi-permeable membrane to look at water movement in different solutions. Placing the egg in a hypotonic solution, like water, caused a net movement of water into the egg, increasing its mass, while the hypertonic solution (corn syrup) caused water to leave, resulting in shrinking.

This experiment showcased how carrot cells responded to different amounts of solute by placing them in either water or sucrose solutions, and leaving them for 48 hours. Carrots in the sucrose solution lost mass, while carrots in the water solution gained mass.

This lab looked at how different solution concentrations affect water movement by observing mass changes in gummy bears placed in distilled water and salt water. The results showed that gummies in hypotonic distilled water gained mass due to osmotic water intake, while those in hypertonic salt solutions showed little to no mass change.

In this lab, my group placed celery into red-dyed water to observe how water moves through plants. after the experiment, the celery showed red coloring at the tips of its leaves and streaks along its veins, demonstrating how water travels upward through the plant’s xylem.

In a group project, we created a poster explaining cohesion and adhesion, showing how water molecules stick to each other and to other surfaces. other groups in the class focused on different properties of water, such as solvency, specific heat and vaporization, and surface tension, so together we built a complete picture of water’s unique characteristics.

In the macromolecules lab, we tested common liquids for lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins using different indicators. we observed color changes that showed which macromolecules were present, such as oatmeal turning black for starch (carbs) and milk showing purple for proteins. writing the lab report helped me connect these visual results to the role of macromolecules in nutrition and biology.

For our macromolecule poster project, my group focused on proteins. we explained their structure, functions in the body, etc. Creating the poster helped me understand how proteins are essential for building and repairing tissues, as well as supporting many processes in living organisms.