Question

Enrichment Question (OPTIONAL)
In the fall of the year, the leaves of many trees change from green to red or yellow. Two hypotheses
can explain this color change: a) in the fall, chlorophyll degenerates, and red or yellow pigments that
were earlier masked by chlorophyll become apparent. b) in the fall, red or yellow pigments are
synthesized, and they mask the other color of chlorophyll. How could you test these two hypotheses
to see which one is more accurate?

Answer 1

Answer:

Removing a leave from a tree and seeing weather its color changes to yellow and red, or remains green.

Explanation:

This experiment will show weather the chlorophyll is degenerating, or if the color if being synthesized. If the leave remain green, then the yellow and red colors must come from synthesized proteins and the leave can't synthesis these proteins because it is not connected to the tree. If the color fades and the leaf turns yellow or red, then the chlorophyll degenerating is the cause because the chlorophyll will begin to degenerate from being disconnected from the tree.