Carolina Biological Supply Company

Hands On Activities to Explore our Most Popular Labs

Melissa HodgesNAOSMM 2013

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Ice Creamer

Ice Creamer Materials

• Deli Container with Lid• Sodium Chloride• Non-dairy Creamer Cup• Ice• Water• Small Spoon

Ice Creamer Procedure1. Add the following to the deli container in the

indicated order:

a) ½ inch of sodium chloride

b) 1 unopened non-dairy creamer cup

c) Ice and water; fill the container but leave enough room to attach the lid

2. Secure the lid onto the deli container.

3. Swirl the container vigorously for a minimum of 3 minutes.

4. Remove lid and creamer cup from the container.

5. ENJOY!

What’s Happening?

• Illustrating colligative properties:

The boiling point can be elevated or the freezing point depressed for every mole of particles dissolved per kilogram of solvent.

• For water, the freezing point is depressed 1.86°C below 0°C for every mole of particles dissolved.

• Here enough sodium chloride is added to lower the freezing point 5-10°C below 0°C.

• This is sufficient to freeze a non-dairy creamer solution.

Strawberry DNA

Strawberry DNA Materials

• Strawberry• Zip-seal Plastic Bag• 10 mL of Cell Lysis Solution• 6 oz. Plastic Cup• 3 × 3" Piece of Cheesecloth• Funnel• 15 mL Centrifuge Tube• 10 mL of 70% Ethanol• Wooden Rod

Strawberry DNA Extraction

Obtain 1 strawberry and place it in a zip-seal plastic bag.

Strawberry DNA ExtractionRemove all air from the bag and smash using your hands . . .

Strawberry DNA Extraction

Add 10 mL of cell lysis solution to the bag . . .

. . . and continue to smash with your hands.

Strawberry DNA Extraction

Put the piece of cheesecloth in the

funnel and place into the plastic cup.

Pour the entire contents of the plastic

bag into the cup.

Strawberry DNA Extraction

Collect 2 mL of the strawberry filtrate into

the 15 mL tube.

Tilt the tube and carefully add 10 mL of ice-cold

ethanol down the inner tilted side, taking care not

to mix the 2 layers.

Strawberry DNA Extraction

Using a wooden rod, gently spool the

precipitated DNA.

DNA can be removed for examination and experimentation.

What’s Happening?• Smashing the strawberry

breaks open the cellulose that composes the cell walls and allows the lysis buffer to come into contact with the cell membrane.

• Lysis buffer contains detergent and salt. The detergent disrupts the lipid cell membrane.

• DNA precipitates out because the salt and DNA are less soluble in ethanol than they are in water.

• The presence of the salt in lysis buffer is critical.

Teacher Tips

• Fresh strawberries work best, but frozen strawberries without syrup can be used.

• To maximize DNA collection, keep ethanol stored on ice or in the freezer until ready to use.

Bessbugs in the Classroom

Bessbugs (short-horned stab beetle)

Easy to maintain• Live in moist rotting wood• Keep moist rotting wood in a

plastic container with a vented lid

Other observations• Appear intimidating but very

docile• Slow moving

Bessbugs in the Classroom

• Bessbugs• Pennies or washers • Pre-cut 2 ft. pieces of floss• Petri dish • Cellophane tape

*Work in pairs*

Bessbug Penny Pull Kit Materials

1. Weigh beetle, penny, and sled.

2. Slip lasso over beetle’s head and body.

3. Gently draw lasso around middle of body between front and middle legs.

4. Tape other end of floss to the inside dish, making a sled.

5. Place beetle and sled on suitable surface.

6. Add individual weights (pennies/washers) until beetle can no longer move the sled.

Bessbug Penny Pull Kit Procedure

How Much Weight Can They Pull?

Kits from Carolina

Bessbug Penny-Pull KitCatalog no. 144145

Strawberry DNA Extraction Kit

Catalog no. 211338

Carolina Free Resources

Carolina offers many free resources to help support

lab managers.

Don’t forget your NAOSMM discount!www.carolina.com/NAOSMM