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National STEM Learning Centre and Network
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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
Jelly Liquidiser
In this Christmas table experiment, Simon Quinnell, from the National STEM Learning Centre and Network, demonstrates why pineapple should not be added to jelly. When he adds pineapple to a bowl of jelly, the jelly liquefies due to the action of an enzyme in the fruit which breaks down the gelatin.
This is an example of a defence mechanism plants, as the pineapple tree produces this enzyme to cause an irritation in the mouths of animals if they eat the fruit.
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