Gummi Bear Science

What concepts are presented in "Sonicating A Gummy Bear"?

High frequency sound waves are use to destroy the integrity of cells to make a cell lysate so cell biologists can study the inner workings of a cell more closely.

Sound waves are a physical force.

You shouldn't eat in a lab!

Detergents can break apart cell membranes.

Why lettuce wilts when left out at warm temperatures.

What lysosomes do within a cell.

Sonicating a Gummy Bear

Materials:

1 red gummy bear

1 ml distilled water

1 4ml polypropylene test tube

1 test tube holder

Equipment:

razor blade

Misonix sonicator with probe set at "20"

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What concepts are presented in "Liquid Nitrogen Frozen Gummy Bear"?

Some qualities and capabilities of Liquid Nitrogen.

Definition of a control.

The importance of controlling for variables.

Some uses of Liquid Nitrogen in science experimentation and research.

How gelatin is made from collagen.

Properties of hydrogels, manmade and natural.

Definition of edema.

Two scientists involved in first making liquefied gases.

Liquid Nitrogen Frozen Gummy Bear

Materials:

2 yellow gummy bears straight from the package

1 yellow gummy bear soaked in tap water overnight

Liquid Nitrogen

Equipment:

Dewar 100ml

pyrex jar without lid

forceps

safety goggles

cold safe gloves

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What concepts are presented in "Digesting a Gummy Bear in Trypsin"?
Enyzme types vary along the digestive tract.
The organ from which Trypsin originates is the pancreas.
The difference between a protein, a peptide and an amino acid.
Trypsin is specific to cut apart proteins after the amino acids lysine and arginine (as long as they are not followed by a proline)
Enzymes work best at physiological temperature (37^oC)
Warm liquids dissolve a gummy bear faster than cold liquids.
Definition of a hypothesis.
The varying pHs across the digestive tract.
The harsh environment of the digestive system causes cells to renew themselves every few days
Controlling for variables is important in experimentation.
The uses of trypsin in research labs: protein sequencing and removing adherent tissue culture cells from a dish.
One use of trypsin in medicine: to dissolve blood clots
Trypsin is used to pre-digest pre-packaged food.
An example of a disease that involves trypsin.

Digesting a Gummy Bear with Trypsin

(a digestive enzyme from the small intestine)

Materials:

4 green gummy bears,

20 mls 37^oC trypsin (5x),

20mls 4^oC trypsin (5x),

20 mls 37^oC Phosphate Buffered Saline (1x),

20mls 4^oC Phosphate Buffered Saline (1x)

Equipment:

4 stir plates

4 small stir bars

4 50ml erlenmeyer flasks

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What Concepts are Presented in "Determining Mass/Length of Gummi Bears and Keeping a Laboratory Notebook"

The difference between Weight and Mass

The difference between Precision and Accuracy

The concept of Uncertainty in measurement

SI units

How to use an analytical balance and calipers

How to set up and arrange a laboratory notebook

Determining Mass/Length of Gummi Bears and

Keeping a Laboratory Notebook

Materials:

1 Pkg Gummi Bears

analytical balance

digital calipers

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What concepts are presented in Gummi Bear Osmosis and Crystallization?
Definition of Solution in Chemistry
Solute, Solvent, Dissolve
Hypertonic, Hypotonic solutions
Osmosis and permeable membranes
Crystallization can occur quickly or slowly, naturally or artificially
Crystallization requires a supersaturated solution, and nucleation sites
It also requires cooling, a chemical reaction, or a change in pH
Examples of crystals in nature
Do you want to make your own crystals? Try rock candy!

Omosis and Crystallization

Materials

20 ml of saturated salt solution

(the ingredients for exact recipe

are not available to most)

1 orange gummy bear

beaker

Methods

drop gummy bear in beaker

leave uncovered for several days to 2 weeks

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Determining the Density of a Gummy Bear