Effects of ZzzQuil Sleep Aid on Lumbriculus variegatus By: Meredith Patterson and Sarah Graham GCC Bio 100- Charles D’Amico High School Hypothesis: If blackworms are kept in increasing amounts of ZZZQuil, then their pulse rates will continually decrease. IndependentVariable: ZzzQuil Dependent Variable: Pulse Rate Control Group: Worms in Spring water Constants: Temperature (17 degrees Celsius), Environment, Tester, Type of Worm, Amount of total liquid in each solution, process by which the pulse is tested Materials: -Microscope -Well Slide -Stopwatch -Spring Water -Blackworms -Pipettes -ZzzQuill (alcohol free) -Dishes Procedure: Control - Using this procedure, follow exactly the experimental agenda to the right. NOTE: to achieve maximum experimental consistency, each worm should be submerged in solution for a total of six minutes, and three minutes are allotted for each pulse count. 1.Using a pipette, gently suck up one worm from the substance. 2.Place the worm into the well slide. Remove any excess liquid and place a coverslip over the worm. 3.Observe the worm on the microscope. 4.Using a segment as close to the middle of the worm as possible, count the number of pulsations that pass through this point over 60 seconds. 5.Place the worm into a separate recovery container of plain spring water, obtain another worm, and repeat steps 5 and 6 (all in accordance with the experimental agenda). Toxin- 1.Prepare three solutions of the drug: a low concentration of 1 mL of ZzzQuil and 29 mL of spring water, a medium concentration of 3 mL of ZzzQuil and 27 mL of spring water, and a high concentration of 5 mL of ZzzQuil and 25 mL of spring water. NOTE: each solution should be comprised of 30 mL of total liquid. 2.Repeat the control group procedure for testing with each of the concentrations of ZzzQuil, following exactly the attached experimental agenda. (again, 10 worms should be tested in each concentration). Results: Pulse rates followed this model: control > low concentration > medium concentration > high concentration, with the mean pulse rates having values of 15.1, 12.8, 11.5, and 9.8 ppm. It should also be noted that worms that were submerged in the high concentration, once placed in the recovery dish, soon bled and/or died. Upon further investigation, it was found that the worms’ bodies were covered in cuts and their tissue seemed distorted, blocking circulation (as can be seen in Figure 1). Because these worms died in the recovery dish, their pulse rates could still be counted and still followed the hypothesis. Conclusion: The data collected supports the aforementioned hypothesis (if blackworms are kept in increasing amounts of ZzzQuil, then their pulse rates will continually decrease), because the average pulse rates were: control- 15.1, low concentration- 12.8, medium concentration- 11.5, and high concentration These results were expected because an adverse effect of the consumption of ZzzQuil (and its active ingredient, Diphenhydramine HCl) is bradycardia (irregularly slow heartbeat). Special care was taken to assure that each worm was immersed in solution for the same amount of time, but each worm may have had an inconsistent time in the solution (different by mere seconds, but still inconsistent), and this could alter quantitative results. Furthermore, as all solutions were made at the same time, some worms were tested when the solutions were older than others. This could have lead to altered pulse rate readings. References: Drewes, Charles D., Dr. "Lumbriculus Variegatus: A Biology Profile." Invertebrate Neurobiology (n.d.): n. pag. Iowa State University Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology Dept. Web. 4 Sept Bohrer, Kelly E. "Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE) 2005 Proceedings, Vol. 27: Effects of Drugs on Pulsation Rate of Lumbriculus Variegatus (Blackworms)." Tested Studies for Labortory Teaching 27 (2006): ABLE.com. Association for Biology Laboratory Education. Web. Sept.-Oct "ZzzQUIL LIQUIDNIGHTTIME SLEEP-AID." ZzzQuil Liquid Sleep-Aid – Alcohol Free Soothing Mango Berry. Procter & Gamble, Web. 09 Oct Introduction: Lumbriculus variegates, a freshwater oligochaete, is more commonly referred to as the blackworm. Lumbriculus variegatus can most often be found in shallow, still water at the edges of ponds, lakes, and marshes. L.. variegatus possess a specialized tail used for gas exchange, and frequently reproduce by the process of asexual fragmentation.Because of their translucent skin and closed circulatory system, L. variegatus are especially effective in laboratory experimentation. ZZZQuil is an over-the-counter sleep aid used to relieve occasional sleeplessness. The active ingredient is Diphenhydramine HCL. The body produces histamine, a naturally occurring substance that interacts with the brain to promote awakeness. Diphenhydramine HCL is an antihistamine which blocks the effects of histamine to help one fall asleep more efficiently. Figure 1