Ethanol's Effect on Biological Membranes

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Valeria Castaneda Ethanol’s Effect in a Biological Membrane Lab Background Information “Biological membranes are cells that are surrounded by thin membranes; it is these cell membranes, which separate inside from out, life from non-life” (Micromagnet). Cells continue to evolve, in fact along the years cells have developed such that the plasma membranes and intracellular membranes now perform many functions, the majority being very important tasks. Biological membranes are made up of phospholipids bilayers with peripheral proteins. Tonoplast is one type of vacuole, which is the cytoplasmic surrounding of the vacuole. Beta vulgaris root tonoplast and cell membrane permeability increase through immersion in solution of high solvent concentration. Beta-vulgaris ‘s red pigment along with ethanol will be used to determine the stress that ethanol has on biological membranes. Research Question What is the effect of changing the percentage of ethanol concentration in the absorbance over time of beetroot pigment? Variables * Independent Variable: Concentration of Ethanol (10,20,30,40%) * Dependent Variable: Absorbance measured by the Logger Lite (nm) * Control Variables: Pieces of Beta vulgaris (cm). Hypothesis: If the there is a large amount of ethanol used, then ethanol will destroy the plasma membranes of the cells of beetroots, because if the concentration increases, the membranes will break even more which will result in greater expulsion of beetroot pigments from the cells. Controlling Independent Variables Controlled Variable | WHY it must be controlled | HOW it was controlled | Amount of Ethanol (10mL) | Too much ethanol can destroy plasma membrane of the cells | Using a Beaker to measure the exact mL | Size and type of beetroot (0.5x0.5 cm) | Because results may vary | By using one type and size for

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