Final Project – AP Biology



Final Project – AP Biology

Darwin performed a simple experiment. He soaked different seeds in salt water for various lengths of time and then planted them to see how salt water would affect germination. Darwin’s experiment was very simple, but surprisingly useful because it was designed well and was centered on a key question. Based on Darwin’s research, he concluded that seeds can travel long distances on ocean currents and germinate elsewhere.

Designing original, independent research is an important part of the real scientific world. Since many of you will surely become world-renowned researchers, it is important for you to get your first taste of “real” science. It may come as a surprise to you but the real Rosalind Franklin’s of the world didn’t have nice, neatly typed directions that lead them down the path to discovery. Real scientists actually have to think up their own bright ideas, form their own hypothesis, do their own experimental planning, and interpret their own results. Strangely enough, no one conveniently has sample data for them to use if their experiment flops.

So, it is time for you to be a real scientist. A list of suggested questions is attached to this informative narrative. It is not an all-inclusive list. If you have some burning passion about research in another area, please speak to me about it.

You may work alone or you may work with one other person. Naturally, expectations are higher for groups. So pick your partner very carefully.

My role in this process will be one of facilitator. I will tell you what equipment is available, help you locate materials, and provide a safe and suitable laboratory environment. The rest is up to you. You have to locate background information about your problem, form a hypothesis, design and carry out your experiment, record and interpret data, and communicate your results. Each researcher or research team will make a 10 minute presentation to the class. Seniors will have a separate assignment and present during senior exam week. The rest of the class will make presentations during the exam period June 2- 4 in place of reviewing and taking a final exam. I also expect you to produce a formal research paper. You will use the same format we used for the other lab write-ups. Those guidelines are attached to this packet.

While I don’t necessarily expect any of you to win a Nobel Prize for this research, I certainly do expect you to take this final assignment very seriously. You have almost survived an entire year of AP course work and I am expecting research that is of a high standard. We will be devoting class time to this project. My expectation is that you will have plenty of time to complete a WELL DONE EXPERIMENT, PRESENTATION, & PAPER.

The project will be worth 200 points. Your grade will be based upon the following:

Lab Report of Experiment 100 points

Successful completion of actual research/experiment 30 points

Work Cited in APA format 10 points

Effective time management 10 points

Oral presentation of research 25 points

Daily science journal kept by each person 25 points

Each research team must do a different research question. You need to decide on a question, gather background information, and formulate your hypothesis by FRIDAY, May 15th. Research topics will be decided on a first come, first serve basis.

PROCEDURE

1. Decide on a question to investigate. First come, first serve.

2. Do some background research and formulate a testable hypothesis.

3. Outline the procedures & experiment

First draft –TYPED - due Monday 5/18/15

a. State your hypothesis. Describe the biological significance of this experiment.

b. List in numerical order, each step of your procedure. The procedure is detailed enough to allow another person to repeat your experiment. Include how you plan to document your results.

c. Include the number of repetitions (usually a minimum of 3), levels of treatment, appropriate time intervals, and controls for each procedure.

d. Make a list of materials and supplies. Check with Ms. Emery to make sure everything you need is available.

e. Assign (in writing) responsibilities if you are working with someone.

4. Perform the experiment, making observations and collecting data for analysis. Remember to quantify your measurements. Pictures and video are valuable.

5. Record all observations and data in your journal. Design tables and graphs, at least one of each.

6. Your initial results will likely lead you to modify your procedure or lead you down a new path. Complete at least one extension of your original hypothesis and be sure to include in your paper and presentation why you chose to do this.

Your lab work and all observations should be completed by Friday, May 29th.

7. Discuss your results in light of your hypothesis. Provide statistics to support your conclusions.

8. Prepare your presentation to the class. Be ready to persuade your fellow scientists that your experimental design is sound and that your results support your conclusions. You may use a poster or PowerPoint presentation format. Include PICTURES AND/OR VIDEO!

9. Submit your written research report in the form specified.

10. At all times, keep your journal up to date. EACH person keeps a journal. You should have a bound notebook/lab notebook to serve as your journal. Record ALL information, thoughts, and observations, no matter how insignificant you may think they are initially. It should contain your original ideas as well as ideas you get from books or other people. It should include descriptions of your experiments as well as diagrams, photographs, and written observations of all of your results. Every entry should be NEAT and dated. Your journal should be a complete and accurate record of your project from start to finish and should be used to write your final paper.

FINAL WRITTEN PRODUCT DUE ON MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2015.

PRESENTATIONS WILL BE DURING THE EXAM PERIOD EITHER TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, OR THURSDAY JUNE 2 - 4TH.

RESEARCH TOPICS

Do seeds need light to germinate? What effect will total darkness have on the process? Is germination better in alternating light and dark, as in nature?

What is the effect of wavelength (color) of light on seed germination?

What effect does scarification (scratching the seed coat) have on germination of various seeds? How does scarification occur in nature?

What temperature regimens are optimums for seed germination? Is germination affected by alternating temperatures (as in nature)? Is a constant temperature favorable?

What effect will salt solutions have on seed germination? Why is this question of interest?

What effect will acid solutions have on seed germination? Why is this question of interest?

Does seed size have an effect on germination rates? On seedling size?

Which wavelengths (colors) of light stimulate phototropic responses?

If the apical meristem is removed, will plants respond to unilateral light?

Can tropisms be altered by applying auxin paste to the plant?

What will happen if the tips of the plant stem are kept in the dark?

What effects do various types of detergents have on water vegetation?

What effects do fertilizers have on water vegetation?

Is dehydration an effective means of food preservation?

How effective are sugar or salt in food preservation? Does the amount of preservation matter?

If sunlight causes tanning, does the absence of light cause the skin to lighten?

What factors affect enzyme activity?

What factors influence reaction time? Can practice improve reaction time? How does fatigue affect reaction time?

Study regeneration in planaria.

Will different soil media cause seeds to germinate and grow at different speeds and will it affect the health of the seedlings? What effect does water with a high nitrate level have on seed germination and seedling growth? Will adding burned ashes to soil effect seed germination and seedling growth?

Is there a ratio between pot size and stem diameter? Is seed germination influenced by what the flowerpot is made of?

How does growing seedlings in a slight breeze affect their viability when transplanted outdoors?

Will seeds germinate and grow better in a hydroponic solution or in potting soil?

What factors affect the amount of popcorn that is popped?

Is it better to water houseplants from the top of the pot or the bottom?

What are the effects on plant germination and growth when watered with a variety of different solutions?

What are the effects of magnetic fields on various organisms (seed germination, plant growth, bacteria, protozoa, planaria, earthworms, etc.)?

Investigate allelopathy in plants. What is its effect on seed germination, growth of roots, leaves? What effect do different concentrations have? What effects do various nutrients have on the production of allelopathic substances?

Using brine shrimp (sea monkeys) as your experimental organism, test various factors such as temperature, salinity, depth preference, etc.

Investigate factors that influence seed germination, temperature, light, water, gravity, etc.

Using snails as your experimental organism, investigate effects of gravity, light, temperature, surface texture, food preference, etc.

How do daily temperatures influence temperature fluctuation in McLoud Run? How do nitrate levels change daily in McLoud Run associated with the seasons? Why are nitrates in the water a concern?

How do the macroinvertebrates compare at various points along McLoud Run or between McLoud Run and Indian Creek?

Investigate the growth of fruit flies on various fruits, in various situations, and/or various days left out.

Use an online database to contribute to actual genetic research.

Compare germination rates of seeds from various fruits to those of packaged seeds. What accounts for the variable germination rate?

Use photographs to show the effectiveness of different methods of fruit preservation, such as the Ever-Fresh green bags, refrigeration methods, etc. Also look at peach ripening in and out of a brown bag.

Plant density effects on growth.

How much metal is in the products we throw away? Use pictures and why isn’t it recycled?

Body language mimics (idea from NOVAScienceNOW on the Brain) – Do people help others more (such as picking up a pencil) if the person they are conversing with mimics their body posture, etc?

Who got the flu vaccine this winter and how many absences did those have that were vaccinated vs. those that went without the vaccination?

How many hairs do you have on your head or your body? How does this compare to other animals?

Create a map of soil temperatures on campus.

What factors affect somebody who is playing “memory game”? Do interruptions or distractions?

Investigate the source of your weekly food. Attempt to buy only locally produced food.

Test to look at our perception of winning and losing. Is losing something perceived more strongly as winning something of equal value?

Can you get fruit flies from bananas at the grocery store? Are the larvae in the flesh?

Investigate historical climate data for Cedar Rapids. Chart the last frost and first freeze for each year. Compare this to similar date from St. Louis and Minneapolis.

Document in photographs and description the metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly.

Investigate the daily fluctuations in body temperature.

Use epidemiological data to determine if the age of the father or mother has any effect on the life span of kids. If Telomerase is affecting age, would the age of parents have any effect?

Time lapse video of food decaying in different conditions.

How well can humans distinguish between different temperatures? Using 2 hands at the same time or maybe with different substances?

How much is our hearing affected by the wind or atmospheric conditions? “Draw” a perimeter of hearing around a fixed volume noise. Does air temperature affect this? Wind?

Lung capacity of various student groups.

Effectiveness of mosquito repellents, both purchased and homemade

How does the method in which you awake affect your pulse rate and blood pressure?  Collect data using normal waking, waking with different tones of an alarm clock, and waking with someone talking to you or yelling for you.

Which photosynthesizes faster, an old leaf or a young leaf?  Use leaf disk assay.

How much time do teenagers spend online, playing video games, or texting, and how does it translate to GPA?

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