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Animal Biology and Evolution (B2)

This collection of experiments was prepared for the novice to help bridge the gap between traditional animal physiology and the biochemistry of cell processes in animals. Following the step-by-step procedures in their laboratory manuals, students will study a variety of topics including the action, properties, and cell location of enzymes, and the evolution of mammalian proteins.

B2-1 and B2-2 Quantifying Amylase Activity (View Individual Experiment)

This exercise begins with a discussion of the digestive enzymes produced by the salivary glands, stomach, intestine and pancreas. The digestive system of a rodent is provided to familiarize students with anatomical features of the digestive organs of a mammal. Students are then given the opportunity to prepare enzyme extracts from pancreatic tissue and to determine the amount of amylase in the extracts and in their own saliva using the procedure described in the figure on this page.

B2-3 Proteases and Factors that Influence Enzyme Activity (View Individual Experiment)

Students contrast the effects of pH on the activities of gastric pepsin and pancreatic chymotrypsin and relate their results to the acidic pH of the stomach and neutral pH of the small intestine. The effects of temperature and thermal denaturation on enzyme activity are also investigated.

B2-4 Evolution of Serum Proteins (View Individual Experiment)

Each protein carries in its amino acid sequence information pertaining to its evolutionary history and origin, and provides clues to the evolutionary history of the organism in which it is found. Indeed, proteins existing today are in effect living fossils. This concept is illustrated in this exercise where students examine the ability of antibodies against cow serum proteins to react with serum proteins from cow, sheep, goat, horse, donkey, and chicken. The results of this study show that sheep and goat are most closely related to cow which is in agreement with classical taxonomy.

B2-5 Serum Enzymes and Disease (View Individual Experiment)

Tissue injury often results in the leakage of large amounts of cellular enzymes into the circulatory system and measurements of the amounts and types of enzymes in serum are frequently made for the diagnosis of human disease. For example, inflammation of the pancreas is accompanied by the release of pancreatic amylase and proteases into the blood stream. In this exercise, students determine the levels of amylase and proteases in serum and compare these levels to those found in saliva and pancreatic extracts.

B2-6 Identifying a Specific Enzyme in Chicken Erythrocytes by Enzyme Cytochemistry. (View Individual Experiment)

The concept that different enzymes are found in different regions of a cell is illustrated in this exercise. Here, students use the technique of enzyme cytochemistry to show that the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase is located in the cytoplasm of chicken erythrocytes. The exercise introduces students to the basic structure of animal cells and provides an illustration of an important technique used in modern cell biology.

Eight chicken blood smears are provided for the experiment and microscopes are required.

Prices

Catalog # Price Description
B2 246.37

The Chemical Package for 16 students working in pairs plus 17 student manuals and one instructor manual
B2-C 192.12

The Chemical Package for 16 students working in pairs plus one student manual and one instructor manual (The student manual may be reproduced for educational purposes.)
B2-CR 147.99

Chemical Refill Package (contains the chemicals and biologicals only)
B2-SM 6.87

Sample Student Manual plus one instructor manual.

Basic Program 2 contains:

  • 8 Tube Racks
  • Digestive System (from rat or mouse)
  • Potassium Iodine
  • 50 Small Test Tubes
  • Casein Solution
  • 60 Transfer Pipets
  • Pepsin
  • Chymotrypsin
  • 20 Petri Dishes
  • Extraction Buffer
  • Chicken Serum
  • 2 Macropipetors
  • Pancreatic Powder
  • Horse Serum (2 tubes)
  • 16 Large Test Tubes
  • Amylase
  • Cow Serum Antibodies
  • 20 Pasteur Pipets
  • Pancreatic Extract (4 Tubes)
  • Cow Serum
  • 8 Chicken Blood Smears
  • Sheep Serum
  • Starch Solution
  • Goat Serum
  • 3 Plastic trays/lids
  • Agar
  • Donkey Serum
  • Methylene Blue
  • Gel Buffer
  • NP-40
  • Eosin
  • LDH Substrate