IB Biology standards for lab practicals are listed on this website from Diploma Programme: Biology teacher support material

Students are required to do seven practicals. The seven practicals are listed as follows

Practical 1: Topic 1.1 – Use of a light microscope to investigate the structure of cells and tissues, with drawing of cells. Calculation of the magnification of drawings and the actual size of structures and ultrastructures shown in drawings or micrographs.

Practical 2: Topic 1.4 – Estimation of osmolarity in tissues by bathing samples in hypotonic and hypertonic solutions.

Practical 3: Topic 2.5 – Investigation of a factor affecting enzyme activity.

Practical 4: Topic 2.9 – Separation of photosynthetic pigments by chromatograph.

Practical 5: Topic 4.1 – Setting up sealed mesocosms to try to establish sustainability.

Practical 6: Topic 6.4 – Monitoring of ventilation in humans at rest and after mild and vigorous exercise.

Practical 7: Topic of transpiration rates using potometers.

We also have suggested experiments for practicals.

Recommendations for experiments and equipment are pulled from the following Vernier lab books.

Investigating Biology through Inquiry (BIO-I)
Advanced Biology with Vernier (BIO-A)
Human Physiology Experiments: Volume 2 (ALB-HP2) or Human Physiology with Vernier (HP-A)
Investigating Environmental Science through Inquiry (ESI)

For most of the prescribed practicals listed above, you will find a Vernier lab activity that matches well, along with the required sensors and equipment to perform the investigation. Equipment as well as investigations or experiments are listed below for each practical.

Your choice of sensors depends on the platform you plan to use to collect data. With the exception of the Go Direct® SpectroVis® Plus Spectrophotometer (GDX-SVISPL) you will need to use LabQuest or LabQuest Mini as your interface with the sensors listed below.

If you are using iOS devices or need help deciding on which sensor and interface is best for you, please contact Vernier Technical Support at 888.837.6437 or support@vernier.com.

Practical 1: Vernier does not have an activity for this practical, nor does Vernier sell compound microscopes. However, we sell several digital imagers that can be used with a compound microscope for this practical. In addition, pictures can be analyzed with Logger Pro software. Different imagers are compatible with computers, Chromebook, or iOS. Choose the right imager for your classroom.

Celestron Digital Microscope Imagers (CS-DMI)
ProScope 5MP Microscope Camera (BD-PS-MC5UW)
Logger Pro 3 (LP)

Practical 2: Please see Investigation 3 in Investigating Biology Through Inquiry. A Gas Pressure Sensor (GPS-BTA) is used in this activity.

Practical 3: There are several investigations that investigate enzyme action in Investigating Biology Through Inquiry. Please see Investigations 6A, 6B, 7, and 8.

Investigation 6A uses a O2 Gas Sensor (O2-BTA) or Go Direct® O2 Gas Sensor (GDX-O2)
Investigation 6B uses a Gas Pressure Sensor (GPS-BTA) or Go Direct® Gas Pressure Sensor (GDX-GP)
Investigations 7 and 8 use a Go Direct® SpectroVis® Plus Spectrophotometer (GDX-SVISPL)

Practical 4: Separation of pigments using chromatography does not require a sensor. Please see Experiment 4A from Advanced Biology with Vernier.

This activity is complemented well by Investigations 12 and 14 in Investigating Biology through Inquiry. Both of these activities use a Go Direct® SpectroVis® Plus Spectrophotometer (GDX-SVISPL)

Practical 5: Investigation 19 from Investigating Environmental Science through Inquiry can be used for this practical. This is an Ecocolumn investigation that uses the following sensors.

Stainless Steel Temperature Probe (TMP-BTA)
Soil Moisture Sensor (SMS-BTA)
pH Sensor (PH-BTA)
Conductivity Probe (CON-BTA)
CO2 Gas Sensor (CO2-BTA)
Relative Humidity Sensor (RH-BTA)
Light Sensor (LS-BTA)

Practical 6: Please see Experiment 9 from Human Physiology Experiments: Volume 2. This activity uses a Go Direct® Spirometer (GDX-SPR). You can also use Experiment 20 from Human Physiology with Vernier. This activity uses a Spirometer (SPR-BTA).

Please note that the Go Direct® Respiration Belt (GDX-RB) could also be used to compare relative changes in respiration effort before and after exercise. This is a more affordable option.

Practical 7: Please see Investigation 13 in Investigating Biology Through Inquiry. A Gas Pressure Sensor (GPS-BTA) or or Go Direct® Gas Pressure Sensor (GDX-GP) is used in this activity.

A compiled list of the sensors that are used in all of these activities is listed below. Please remember that you will also need LabQuest or LabQuest Mini as your interface if you are using LabQuest sensors. The list below does not include a digital imager.

Go Direct® Respiration Belt (GDX-RB)
Go Direct® SpectroVis® Plus Spectrophotometer (GDX-SVISPL)
Stainless Steel Temperature Probe (TMP-BTA) or Go Direct® Temperature Probe (GDX-TMP)
Soil Moisture Sensor (SMS-BTA)
pH Sensor (PH-BTA)
Conductivity Probe (CON-BTA)
O2 Gas Sensor (O2-BTA) or Go Direct® O2 Gas Sensor (GDX-O2)
CO2 Gas Sensor (CO2-BTA) or Go Direct® CO2 Gas Sensor (GDX-CO2)
Relative Humidity Sensor (RH-BTA)
Light Sensor (LS-BTA)
Spirometer (SPR-BTA) or Go Direct® Spirometer (GDX-SPR)
Gas Pressure Sensor (GPS-BTA) or Go Direct® Gas Pressure Sensor (GDX-GP)

A starter package that can be used to complete all seven practicals is listed below. Please note this list does not include a digital imager.

Gas Pressure Sensor (GPS-BTA)
Stainless Steel Temperature Probe (TMP-BTA)
Conductivity Probe (CON-BTA)
pH Sensor (PH-BTA)
CO2 Gas Sensor (CO2-BTA)
Spirometer (SPR-BTA)