BIOLOGY LABORATORY
MANUAL 2023-2025
By: Mr. Rasean Mills
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Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms. It encompasses a wide range of
topics, including the structure and function of cells, the interactions between organisms and their
environment, the mechanisms of inheritance and evolution, and the diversity of life on Earth.
Biology is a broad and diverse field that includes many sub-disciplines, such as ecology,
genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, and physiology. These sub-disciplines focus on
specific aspects of biology and are often interconnected, with discoveries in one area influencing
research in another.
INFO. BOX
NAME: ___________________________________
FORM CLASS: _________ POOL: _________
TEACHER: _______________________________
Biology is an important field of study because it helps us to understand the fundamental
processes of life and the natural world around us. This understanding is essential for addressing
many of the challenges facing humanity, such as disease, environmental degradation, and
biodiversity loss. It also provides a basis for many other scientific fields, including medicine,
agriculture, biotechnology, and conservation biology. Biology is a fundamental science that
plays a crucial role in our society. It helps us to understand the natural world and how living
organisms interact with each other and their environment.
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Experiment #: 1
Date: ________________________
Title: Microscope Work
Skill Assessed: MM and DR
Aim: To observe a selected plant and animal cell under the microscope
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: 1. Position the objective lens and ensure microscope is calibrated.
2. Place onion slide over the hole on the stage, hold slide in place using
the stage clip.
3. Examine the onion cell under the microscope and draw a suitable
scientific diagram.
4. Repeats steps 1-3 using human cheek cells.
Write a suitable laboratory report.
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Experiment #: 2
Date: ________________________
Title: Diffusion
Skill Assessed: ORR and AI
Aim: To determine the effect of concentration on the rate of diffusion of
ammonium hydroxide
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: 1. Cut a strip of litmus paper into eight equal pieces.
2. Use distilled water to rinse two test tubes.
3. Place four pieces of litmus paper equal distance apart, in each test tube.
4. Measure the length of each strip of litmus paper from the rim of the test
tube.
5. Add five drops of ammonium hydroxide on a cotton ball and place it in
the mouth of one of the test tubes.
6. Record the time taken for each piece of litmus paper to change colour.
7. Add ten drops of ammonium hydroxide on another cotton ball and place
it in the mouth of the other test tube and record the time taken for each
strip to change colour.
Record the observations in a suitable table.
Construct a dual line graph to represent the results.
Write a suitable laboratory report.
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Experiment #: 3
Date: ________________________
Title: Osmosis
Skill Assessed: PD
Problem Statement: You are provided with a potato in class. Plan and design an investigation
to use the potato to show the process of osmosis within different
concentration of solutions.
Experiment #: 4
Date: ________________________
Title: Photosynthesis
Skill Assessed: ORR and MM
Aim: To investigate the presence of starch in a green leaf.
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: 1. Take a small fresh green leaf from a plant.
2. Dip the leaf in boiling water for 30 seconds.
3. Place the leaf in a test tube that contains about one third its volume of
alcohol.
4. Place the test tube into a beaker of boiling water.
5. Remove the leaf from the alcohol and rinse it when it appears
colourless.
6. Lay the leaf on a spotting tile and cover it with iodine.
7. Record observations as an annotated diagram.
Write a suitable laboratory report.
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Experiment #: 5
Date: ________________________
Title: Photosynthesis and Light
Skill Assessed: ORR and AI
Aim: To investigate if light is necessary for photosynthesis to occur.
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: 1. Use a whole calaloo plant that was destarched by keeping it in the dark
for 24 hours.
2. Cover a part of one leaf on the plant with foil held in place with paper
clips.
3. Make a drawing to show the covered and uncovered parts of the leaf.
4. Put the plant in the sun for 3 hours.
5. Remove the test leaf and test for starch.
6. Make an annotated drawing of the leaf to show any observations.
Write a suitable laboratory report.
Experiment #: 6
Date: ________________________
Title: Effect of Environmental Factors on Transpiration
Skill Assessed: PD
Problem Statement: You are provided with a potometer; plan and design an experiment to
investigate the rate of transpiration within a plant with stems.
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Experiment #: 7
Date: ________________________
Title: Food Test 1
Skill Assessed: MM and AI
Aim: To observe the colour changes produced in various food tests.
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: TESTING FOR STARCH (Iodine Test)
1. Crush a piece of cracker.
2. Place some on a spotting tile.
3. Add 3 drops of iodine.
TESTING FOR REDUCING SUGAR
1. Pour 2 cm3 of glucose solution into a test tube.
2. Add 1 cm3 of Benedict’s solution and gently shake test tube.
3. Place test tube in a water bath
TESTING FOR NON-REDUCING SUGAR
1. Pour 2 cm3 of sucrose solution into each of two test tubes.
2. Label the test tubes A and B.
3. Test the contents of test tube A for reducing sugar.
4. Add 1 cm3 of hydrochloric acid to test tube B and place it in a water
bath for 5 minutes.
5. Remove the test tube from the water bath and add sodium bicarbonate,
drop by drop, until fizzing stops.
6. Add 2 cm3 of Benedict’s solution and gently shake the test tube.
7. Place the test tube in a water bath for 5 minutes.
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TESTING FOR PROTEINS (Biuret Test)
1. Pour 2 cm3 of egg albumen solution into a test tube.
2. Add 1 cm3 of sodium hydroxide and gently shake the test tube.
3. Add 5 drops of copper sulphate and shake.
TESTING FOR LIPIDS (Emulsion Test)
1. Place 10 drops of cooking oil into a test tube.
2. Add 3 cm3 of ethanol and shake.
3. Allow the test tube to stand for 3 minutes.
4. Pour off the upper clear layer into a clean test tube.
5. Add distilled water and shake.
Record the observations in a suitable table.
Write a suitable laboratory report.
Experiment #: 8
Date: ________________________
Title: Enzyme
Skill Assessed: ORR and MM
Aim: To determine the effect of pH on the activity of catalase.
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: 1. Label six clean test tubes: pH 5, pH 6, pH 7, pH 8, pH 9 and pH 10.
2. Place two drops of liver extract and 1 ml of water in each test tube.
3. Add 1 ml of H2O2 to the first test tube.
4. Measure the height of the foam formed in 10 seconds.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 with the other test tubes.
Record the observations using a suitable table and graph.
Write a suitable laboratory report.
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Experiment #: 9
Date: ________________________
Title: Food Test 2
Skill Assessed: PD
Problem Statement: Supermarkets offer a choice among apple drinks, apple juice and apple
soda. Plan and design an experiment to determine the sugar content of
apple drinks, apple juice and apple soda.
Experiment #: 10
Date: ________________________
Title: Biological Drawing
Skill Assessed: ORR and DR
Aim: To observe the different organisms within a selected habitat.
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: 1. Choose a habitat either terrestrial or aquatic on the school compound.
2. Observe and make a note of the relationship between the organisms
present in the habitat. Construct a table to record observations.
3. Construct a food web to show the feeding relationship between
organisms in the habitat.
4. From the habitat chosen, collect a sample of leaves, flowers, seeds and
animals present.
5. Make biological drawings to include: dicotyledonous leaf and two
different animals.
Write a suitable laboratory report.
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Experiment #: 11
Date: ________________________
Title: Respiration and Breathing Rate
Skill Assessed: MM and AI
Aim: To investigate how breathing rate changes with exercise.
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: 1. Students will work in groups of two.
2. Student 1 will rest for two minutes.
3. Student 2 will measure and record the breathing rate of student 1.
4. Student 1 will rest for 1 minute, then student 2 will measure and record
the breathing rate for 1 minute.
5. Average the breathing rates at the 3rd and 5th minute to get the breathing
rate at rest.
6. Student 1 will do some vigorous exercise for 5 minutes.
7. Student 1 will sit and rest 1 minute.
8. Student 2 will measure and record the breathing rate for 1 minute.
9. Student 1 will rest for another minute.
10. Student 2 will measure and record the breathing rate every other
minute until the breathing rate returns to normal.
Record the observations using a suitable table and graph.
Write a suitable laboratory report.
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Experiment #: 12 (Implementation Part A)
Date: ________________________
Title: ________________________
Skill Assessed: PD
Problem Statement: A) Nutrition and Disease: Nutrients are important in plant growth and
health. Plan and design an experiment to determine the effect of lack of
calcium on plant growth.
B) Food Test: Product X is a new energy beverage on the market for kids.
These beverages should be a good source of reducing sugar or protein.
Plan and design an experiment to determine if product x is a good energy
drink for kids.
C) Enzymes: It is said that pineapple should not be added to Jell-O. Plan
and design an experiment to investigate the effect of pineapple on Jell-O.
D) Germination: Seeds of the same species of plants vary in size.
Farmers are interested in investing in plants that grow fast and have a high
yield. Plan and design an experiment to determine if the size of the seed
affects rate of germination and plant yield.
NB: Each student is expected to select ONLY ONE of the FOUR options presented above.
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Experiment #: 13
Date: ________________________
Title: Germination and Growth
Skill Assessed: MM and ORR
Aim: To observe the growth of a bean plant.
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: 1. Soak the kidney bean and corn seeds in water and sow them in
moist tissue or newspaper.
2. When the shoot of each seed appears, measure its length.
3. Measure the length of the shoots every day for 10 days.
Record the observations using a suitable table and graph.
Draw an annotated diagram to represent the FINAL stage of the germinating seed.
Write a suitable laboratory report.
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Experiment #: 14
Date: ________________________
Title: Seeds and Food Storage
Skill Assessed: DR and AI
Aim: To compare food substances found in cotyledons before and after
germination.
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: 1. Label four test tubes: A1, A2, B1 and B2.
2. Crush 10 ungerminated kidney beans.
3. Place some of the crushed bean on a spotting tile and add iodine.
Record observations.
4. Add 10 cm3 of water to the remaining crushed beans and grind it some
more.
5. Pour the liquid and debris into test tube A1.
6. Remove the shoots and roots from the germinated kidney beans, and
repeat steps 2 to 4 for the germinated beans, adding them into tube B1.
7. Place test tube A1 and B1 into a water bath for one minute.
8. Remove the tubes and allow the contents to settle, and then pour the
liquid from A1 and B1 into A2 and B2, respectively.
9. Add 2 cm3 Benedict’s solution to A2 and B2 and place them in the
water bath for 5 minutes. Record observations.
Construct a suitable table to record results and write a suitable laboratory report.
Draw a labelled diagram of the internal and external structure of the kidney bean.
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Experiment #: 15
Date: ________________________
Title: Water Percentage
Skill Assessed: PD
Problem Statement: An agricultural science student notices that the moisture in the soil on the
top farm when compared to the soil on the bottom farm is not the same
however temperature is constant for both. Plan and design an experiment
to investigate the percentage of water in both soil samples.
Experiment #: 16
Date: ________________________
Title: Sensitivity and Coordination
Skill Assessed: ORR and AI
Aim: To investigate whether woodlice prefer dark moist or light dry areas.
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: 1. Construct a choice chamber by joining two gas jars horizontally on a
table.
2. Place damp cotton in one of the gas jars and completely seal with a
plastic bag. This end of the chamber is dark and moist.
3. Seal the other end with transparent plastic and put a light source
outside. This end of the chamber is light and dry.
4. Place 10 woodlice in the middle of the choice chamber.
5. Observe the woodlice for 10 minutes.
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6. Record the number of woodlice in each end of the choice chamber at
the end of each minute.
Construct a suitable table to record results and write a suitable laboratory report.
Experiment #: 17
Date: ________________________
Title: Genetic Variation
Skill Assessed: ORR and AI
Aim: To determine whether the results of a monohybrid cross is due to chance
alone.
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: 1. Work in groups of 5.
2. Place all the beads in a black bag. Choose a colour to represent the
dominant allele and the other to represent the recessive allele.
3. Secure the opening of the bag and shake it vigorously.
4. Remove two beads from the bag without looking inside the bag.
5. Repeat steps 1-3 until all the beads are removed from the bag.
6. Tabulate results in a suitable table.
Write a suitable laboratory report.
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Experiment #: 18
Date: ________________________
Title: Ecological Study
Skill Assessed: MM, ORR and AI
Aim: To determine whether the results of a monohybrid cross is due to chance
alone.
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: 1. Work in groups of 4.
2. Choose an area of the school garden and mark a spot. Stand in the spot
for 5 minutes, sweeping the net back and forth in a figure eight manner.
3. Count and place the collected grasshoppers in a bag.
4. Use a permanent marker to place a mark on the thorax of each
grasshopper, recording the number of grasshoppers caught.
5. Release the grasshoppers in the same area they were collected.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 in three more areas along the length of the garden
capturing, counting, marking and releasing.
7. On day two, carry out four sweeps, each in approximately the same
location as before.
8. Record the number of both marked and unmarked grasshoppers
collected.
9. Carefully release the grasshoppers back into the same area.
10. Tabulate results in a suitable table.
Write a suitable laboratory report.
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Experiment #: 19
Date: ________________________
Title: Diseases
Skill Assessed: DR and AI
Aim: To investigate the cycle of a mosquito.
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Method: 1. Conduct a search around four different areas on the school compound to
locate any mosquitoes.
2. Record all results in a suitable table.
3. Construct a drawing to represent the life cycle of a mosquito.
4. Draw and label an adult mosquito.
Write a suitable laboratory report.
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Experiment #: 20 (Implementation Part B)
Date: ________________________
Title: ________________________
Skill Assessed: AI
Aim: _____________________________________________________
Apparatus/Materials: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Introduction: An overview of the experiment should be given.
Method: Method formulated in part A of the implementation should be written in
PAST TENSE.
Results/Observation: Tables/Graphs/Charts
Discussion: Explanations, Interpretations and Trends.
Limitations: ______________________________________________________
Reflection: Relevance between the experiment and real life; Impact of knowledge
gained from the experiment on self and justification for any adjustment
made during experiment.
Conclusion: ______________________________________________________
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OPTIONAL EXPERIMENT
Experiment #: 21
Date: ________________________
Title: Ecological Study 2
Skill Assessed: PD
Problem Statement: Plants unlike animals are immotile. Plants require certain conditions
to grow well in a habitat. The method of determining the size of an
animal population differs from those used when investigating a
plant population. Plan and design an experiment to investigate the
population size of grass between an open field and the canopy of a
tree.
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