Experiments in genetics can take a lot of time to complete, but a demonstration of a principle in genetics is a lot simpler and faster. This demonstration will show how different segments of chromosomes are exchanged during meiosis. Two colors of clay are needed to make two logs of each color for a total of four logs. Each color represents a paternal and maternal chromosome found in each of our cells. There are two copies due to the replication that has taken place in meiosis. Place the four chromosomes side by side and exchange equal portions of one chromosome with another and repeat once more.Separate each log to visualize the results.Each one of the logs represents a chromosome that may be given during reproduction. The chromosome being passed on may have a solid color or a mixture of the two.
This experiment will demonstrate the effects of light on growing seeds. Choose seeds that germinate in about seven to 10 days. Find two locations that receive different amounts of natural light. An empty egg carton can provide the miniature pots for the seeds. Keep the soil, amount of water and type of seeds the same in both pots. The only thing that should be different is the amount of light the plants receive. Place one pot in an area that gets lots of light and the other in a place with very low light, such as in a cabinet. Record what you see daily for about two to three weeks.
Microscopic organisms are around us all the time. Growing bacteria in the home helps to demonstrate the concept of a microscopic world many never get to see. For this experiment, you will need a few agarose plates from a science education store. Take a cotton swab and wipe the surface of something, like a table. Lightly touch the swab to the surface of the agar in the plate. Take samples of other surfaces, using a different swab and agar plate for each. On the lid of each plate, put a label that describes where the sample was taken. Stack the plates for about a day in a warm, dark place. Take pictures of what you see in each plate. Clean the plates with a little bleach before disposing of them in the garbage. Handle the plates carefully as there may be a lot of bacteria and you could get sick.
Bees, which are found in almost every corner of the world, are responsible for pollinating many plant species. For this experiment, make a hypothesis of what kinds of things you think may attract bees. These could be colors, scents, shapes or different sizes of objects. Make several water traps by placing shallow dishes with water and unscented detergent outdoors. Put different objects, colors or chemicals in the dishes to test your hypothesis. Keep the dishes out for about a week with frequent watering to make sure the water level is high enough to trap the bees. After a week, count the bees in the traps. Which trap worked the best?