Diversity of Photosynthetic Pigments

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Author:

Alexander F. Motten

Subject:

Science and Technology

Institution Name:

Duke University

Collection:

Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE)

Grade Level:

Post-secondary

Abstract:

The names of algal divisions emphasize the prominence of color in their biology. Using readily available source materials, students extract polar and non-polar photosynthetic pigments from red, brown, and green algae and from cyanobacteria and angiosperms. The non-polar pigments are then quickly and cleanly separated by thin layer chromatography on narrow strips of plastic-backed silica gel with minimal amounts of solvent. The resulting patterns can be used to infer the origins of chloroplasts in eukaryotes and the phylogenetic relationships among the source taxa or to illustrate a wider assortment of accessory pigments than those found in angiosperms alone.

Course Type:

Learning Module

Languages:

English

Material Type:

Activities and Labs, Lesson Plans

Media Format:

Downloadable docs

Conditions of Use:

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Use solely at one's own institution with no intent for profit is excluded from the preceding copyright restriction, unless otherwise noted on the copyright notice of the individual chapter in this volume. Proper credit to this publication must be included in your laboratory outline for each use; a sample citation is given [on the copyright page of each volume]. Upon obtaining permission or with the "sole use at one's own institution" exclusion, ABLE strongly encourages individuals to use the exercises in this proceedings volume in their teaching program.