Betalin - Beetroot
Why does belatin leak out of cooked Beetroot?
In cooked beetroot, the water or food would become stained due to its leakage of betalin (the redish-purple pigment). Betalin is found in the vacuole of beetroot cell. The leakage may have been caused by something happening in the cell membrane of the beetroot – concerning the proteins embedded in the phospholipid layer. The study will require the experiment of different temperatures of water and to find out which in temperature causes the most leakage of the pigment and why it does this.
Introduction
The study can contribute to biology as can tell us how the cell membrane structure works and the durability of the membrane. It can contribute to medical units to help us treat illnesses as the cell membrane is where chemicals reactions happen. The cell membrane also acts as an immunity marker to the immune system – recognising that the cell isn’t a foreign body.
The cell membrane is also a place where transport movements of molecules and substances enter and exit the cell. These can happen by diffusion, osmosis, active transport and facilitated diffusion. This behaviour is what keeps the cell alive and sustained but also, maintain our body functions.
Aim
The aim is to use beetroot to examine the effect of temperature on cell membranes to relate the effects observed to membrane structure. To function correctly, a cell needs to be able to control transport across the partially permeable membrane. [1]
Hypothesis
The hypothesis for the study is that high temperature will make more betalin leak out of the beetroot than the colder tempertures. This is because the hot water may denature some components in the phospholipid layer of the cell membrane and disrupt the transport movement of the molecules.
Variables
Independent Variable * Temperature of water
The temperature of the water is the only thing that should change in this experiment as we are testing how different temperatures affect the membrane of
In cooked beetroot, the water or food would become stained due to its leakage of betalin (the redish-purple pigment). Betalin is found in the vacuole of beetroot cell. The leakage may have been caused by something happening in the cell membrane of the beetroot – concerning the proteins embedded in the phospholipid layer. The study will require the experiment of different temperatures of water and to find out which in temperature causes the most leakage of the pigment and why it does this.
Introduction
The study can contribute to biology as can tell us how the cell membrane structure works and the durability of the membrane. It can contribute to medical units to help us treat illnesses as the cell membrane is where chemicals reactions happen. The cell membrane also acts as an immunity marker to the immune system – recognising that the cell isn’t a foreign body.
The cell membrane is also a place where transport movements of molecules and substances enter and exit the cell. These can happen by diffusion, osmosis, active transport and facilitated diffusion. This behaviour is what keeps the cell alive and sustained but also, maintain our body functions.
Aim
The aim is to use beetroot to examine the effect of temperature on cell membranes to relate the effects observed to membrane structure. To function correctly, a cell needs to be able to control transport across the partially permeable membrane. [1]
Hypothesis
The hypothesis for the study is that high temperature will make more betalin leak out of the beetroot than the colder tempertures. This is because the hot water may denature some components in the phospholipid layer of the cell membrane and disrupt the transport movement of the molecules.
Variables
Independent Variable * Temperature of water
The temperature of the water is the only thing that should change in this experiment as we are testing how different temperatures affect the membrane of
References: [1] http://www.snabonline.com/Content/TopicResources/Topic2/Activities/Sheets/AS02ACT08.pdf [2] Example of a Beetroot Practical Report (included in paper)