Biology experiment

[Babbler]

In Quebec, each student in CEGEP has to do a comprehensive assessment. (Background: this policy was introduced in nighties; my Dad said that this was just designed to make it more difficult for the student to pass and to give the teachers more work. But I digress) One of the tasks given to all Pre-university students is an experiment in General Biology I. The basic requirements are as follows:

*You must perform a simple experiment.
*The experiment should involve the use of living biological material.
*The experiment should involve the manipulation of one variable (minimum).
*The experiment should be properly controlled.
*Quantitative data must be collected.
*A statistical analysis of the data must be presented.
*A formal report of your experiment must be submitted.

And we have to give in something by late September. I don't know what do; normally I would procrastinate, but that strategy has been failing me (literally). I was thinking of some experiment with plants growing under a different wavelengths of light or something with iron bacteria (those are probably hard to get). So I humblely ask for any suggestions. Here are past project done by people in the college.

 

[Alvaro da Luna]

How simple can this experiment be? If you want minimum complexity, I'd say go with something to do with plants; that is, something widely available and easy to manipulate. I did an experiment in highschool (long ago) involving measuring light intensity on plants, while maintaining all other variables of plant growth as constant. I measured the changes in the rate of photosynthesis by directly measuring the amount of oxygen gas the plant was releasing. You are of course free to select whatever variables you wish to manipulate.

Btw, I used a lamp to vary the light intensity, and I measured the oxygen volume using water displacement in a manometer tube.

 

[Taliesin]

I've always wanted to do something involving microwave ovens and either plants or microbial colonies. e.g. expose one group of plants to 1 sec of microwave radiation each day, another group to 5, another group to 10, and a control group. I have no idea what this might do to them, though, so you'll have to investigate it and formulate your own hypothesis.

 

[EdwardTking]

Brew yourself some beer.

 

[Taliesin]

Or vodka... you'll stink up the entire science wing for a week!

 

[Urederra]

Try to prove that girls are more easily intoxicated by alcohol than boys. Try to obtain the booze from the High-school as well as the authorization to perform the experiment.




I will think about something serious and easy to do. If I come across with something. I will post it.

 

[soul_warrior]

try growing some plants, probably some seasonal veggie or something.
then measure the fruits size (weight, color).
the variablec ould be watering amounts.
plant all in same sized pot and earth type, same lighting, just varied amounts of water.

 

[Babbler]

try growing some plants, probably some seasonal veggie or something.
then measure the fruits size (weight, color).
the variablec ould be watering amounts.
plant all in same sized pot and earth type, same lighting, just varied amounts of water.

I don't think it would work -- I have only around a month or two to conduct and collect the results.

Try to prove that girls are more easily intoxicated by alcohol than boys. Try to obtain the booze from the High-school as well as the authorization to perform the experiment.

That a great experiment! It also a college experiment, and on the Island of Montreal, so almost everyone here can legally and regularly drink. Expect I have to choose for so many volunteers, and I have trouble choosing.