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BS1001 Introduction to Biological Processes - James Cook University

Aims:

Part A: This section is to be completed before the laboratory session. Part A of the practical aims to develop your generic skills and ability to design and conduct experiments using the scientific method.

Part B: At the beginning of the Practical session, a member of JCU staff will go through the various aspects of the Laboratory Safety Induction sheet. Please fill out all the necessary details and hand back to the staff member.

Part C: Part C of the practical aims to develop your laboratory skills and increase your understanding of the subject so far. You will learn how to conduct a scientific experiment and collect data for use in a scientific report. Based on the data collected in this lab, you will, in a small group (or individually is you are studying off-campus), write a full scientific Lab Report on Artemia hatching rate response to differing salinities and light levels. How you handle the report as a group is up to you.

Part A: Exploring the scientific method using inquiry lab questions

This section is to be completed before the laboratory session - not in the lab
We want to show you the creative process of how to design an experiment to test a hypothesis yourself, where the method is not provided for you. The development of an authentic way to test a hypothesis or aim requires you to use logic and communication, as well as the flexibility to change an experimental design that doesn't seem to work. These are known as "Inquiry Labs", or "open-ended labs". Inquiry Labs are a great way to introduce the scientific method, allowing you to explore science, answer a question, or test a hypothesis without the traditional recipe format of your usual labs.

Read through the questions below and explore the links. These are examples of scientific questions and methods from our everyday lives.

1. Keep Calm and Take a Deep Breath: Does deep breathing actually lower your heart rate?

2. How to Best Clean Everyday Spills: Are Bounty (or Handee Ultra) paper towels more absorbent than generic paper towels?

3. Put dishwashing liquids to the test: Fairy versus Blast who really cuts the grease best?

4. Many gum brands claim that they have the longest lasting flavour: what type of gum has the longest lasting flavour:

5. Which Liquid Creates the Highest Mentos Geyser? Diet Coke is the preferred soda when shooting Mentos soda geysers. But is it really the best?

6. Which type of polish remover works best, acetone or acetone free?

Inquiry Lab:
Read through all of the 6 Inquiry questions and check out the listed websites. It is an interesting investigative process that reinforces the importance of the scientific method and processes of science. Now that you have a feel for consumer testing, try evaluating claims you see on commercials and, either on your own and/or in discussions with fellow classmates, design and develop strategies for how to set up an experiment to test those claims.

Design your own experiment, include all information (1-5).

1. Determine a research question
2. Write your hypothesis (include reasoning)
3. Write and/or draw experimental design
4. If you can, test your hypothesis and record your data. For this exercise, you may also be able to find some data online on commercial websites.
5. Your conclusions and limitations of any data you collected.

Part C: Investigating the effects of differing salinities and light levels on hatching rates of Artemia

Discuss:
Here are some questions you need to think about and discuss with your group during the practical. These will help you with your scientific report write-up.:
i) What were our variables?
(1) Independent variables:
(2) Dependent variables:
(3) Controlled variables:

ii) What were the aims of this experiment? For your report you need to have clear and concise aims that describe the purpose or reason for doing the experiment. Think carefully about what question you want to ask with regard to the effect of salinity on Artemia hatching rate.

iii) What is the function of a control in an experiment?

iv) Were differences observed between the differing salinities and light levels compared to the control? What do you think is the optimum salinity and light levels for hatching the Artemia? How does this equate to salinities and light levels in the natural environment that Artemia may be exposed to? What implications does this have for Artemia populations? What other organisms are likely to be affected? Would an increase in rainfall (due to climate change) affect the hatching rate of the brine shrimp?

v) Why do you think brine shrimp are a good choice as a study animal in this study? Why might brine shrimp not be the best choice as a study animal in this study?

Attachment:- Scientific methods.rar