IB Biology

(SL / HL)

[Practical 1D] Investigating Properties of Cell Membranes

Name: ……………………………………………… Class: …………………

[Practical 1D] To investigate some properties of cell membranes when beetroot

tissue are treated in different ways and using your knowledge of membranes,
explain your observations.

(I) Introduction
All cells are bounded by a plasma membrane, but many internal cell structures are also bounded by
membrane. These include the tonoplast, the membrane surrounding a plant cell vacuole, the double
membrane (envelope) surrounding the nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplasts, and the membranes
of other organelles such as vacuoles, vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus. All
these membranes have basically the same structure.

One of the roles of membranes is to control what passes across them. Membranes are partially
permeable, i.e. they do not normally allow large molecules to pass across them. Many plant cells
contain pigment molecules in the cytoplasm. In beetroot cells these molecules are large and reflect
red light, so that a solution of them turns a shade of pink. Many pigment molecules are also affected
by pH and change colour at different pH values. Litmus, for example, is a plant pigment and is blue
in alkali and red in acid. Ethanol is an organic solvent. Proteins are stable at a particular pH and
become denatured outside this. The normal pH of cells 7.2.

(II) Materials
• beet root (diced) • stopwatch
• test tubes & racks • colorimeter (absorbance at 565 nm)
• water bath (50oC & 80oC) • acetone
• ice cubes • ethanol

(III) Procedure
It is important to read through the procedure and think about what information you will need to
collect, and draw a results table before you begin the experiment.

Part I. Effect of Temperature on Cell Membrane

1. Prepare 5 discs of beetroot for each treatment (6 treatments x 5 = 30 in total).
The discs have been cut 24 hours ago and were left in distilled water to remove any pigment
from damaged tissue.
2. Rinse the discs under running water to remove any excess pigment.
Take care when handling the discs as any mechanical damage will cause the release of the
red pigments from the cells, therefore spoiling the experiment.

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3. Prepare 4 test tubes each containing 10 cm3 of water and label each with one of the
temperatures (80°C, 60°C, 40°C, room temperature, 20°C, ice 0°C) or the stable
temperatures provided by the water baths.
4. Label 4 small beakers containing 50 cm3 of water and place them in the water baths set at
approx. 80°C and 50°C, leave one at room temperature and place one on ice - allow water
to get to temperature (5 min but check with thermometer).
5. Carefully place 5 discs in the small beaker of water in the 80°C water bath and leave for
exactly 1 min. Use a timer.
6. Carefully remove the 5 discs and place in one of the labelled test tubes. Leave for 20 min
then shake gently.
7. Repeat this procedure at the other 3
temperatures.
8. Estimate the intensity of the pigment in solution
by measuring light absorbance using the
colorimeter (at 565 nm).

Part II. Effect of Organic (Non-polar) Solvents

on Cell Membrane
9. Repeat the above procedure at room
temperature this time using two beakers, one
with acetone and one with ethanol.

(IV) Results & Report

10. Record your results in an appropriate manner.
11. Submit a full report with emphasis on Analysis and Evaluation. Your report should include
some of the following pointers such as:
 (A) Analysis (AN)
 (i) Raw Data & Data Processing. Relevant quantitative and qualitative raw data
included; Data processed with appropriate tool; Tabulated with headings, units and
uncertainties; Sample working shown.
 (ii) Charting. Appropriate choice of graph with correct proportion and size; relevant
details such as title, axes, etc.
 (iii) Interpretation. Observed trends, anomalous data, optimum / maxima, minima,
uncertainity, etc.
 (B) Evaluation (EV)
 (i) Conclusion. Based on data; Discussion and explanation of results with sound
scientific concepts;
 (ii) Strengths & weaknesses. Such as limitations of the data and sources of error are
discussed and provide evidence of a clear understanding of the methodological issues
involved in establishing the conclusion.
 (iii) Improvements & Extenions. Realistic and relevant suggestions for the
improvement and extension of the investigation.
12. Submission of Work. On ManageBac by ………………… (…..….), 2355 hours.
 File Type (.pdf) / Name. Please save and upload the (.pdf) file as [BIO 503HL] H2O2
<Name>. e.g. [BIO 503HL] H2O2 - Joseph Tan.
 Not Graded & Individual Work. Do note that this piece of work is not graded and
should be submitted individually.