Scientific Method Unit 2

We will set up the scientific method experiment today and will work on it for the next 2 weeks. Mealworm or Tenebrio molitor –Weigh mealworm this week –Place in one of 2 substrates Oat bran or peat moss –Reweigh next week –Do statistical analysis of data (weight gain or loss) to determine which substrate best supported growth of the mealworm

Independent variable –What the investigator varies –Type of substrate Dependent variable –What is measured or counted –Change in mass of mealworm Control variables –Amount of water, amount of substrate, light conditions, others

Review Scientific Method Terminology Hypothesis Steps on scientific method Discuss with your lab group a valid hypothesis for your mealwork experiment.

Scientific Research Articles Scientists must publish their research in a peer- reviewed journal for the information to be a part of scientific knowledge. Your lab reports will be similar to these research articles and will contain the following 5 sections. –Abstract –Introduction –Materials and Methods –Results –Discussion

Research articles

Scientific Method (Mealworm) Measure and record Day 7 mass Dispose of mealworm and substrate in trash. Place vial and stopper in labeled container Add your data into instructor’s computer (Excel spreadsheet) so that all students can record all of the class’s data Run statistical program in Excel. Review the meaning of the statistical analyses.

Comparison of 2 independent sample means Refer to p. 23 for definitions Mean –average Deviation –How the measurements vary from the mean (+ or -) Variance –Sum of the squared deviations Standard deviation –Square root of the variance Minimum value Maximum value Sample size

Formula for standard deviation

Hypothesis Testing Null hypothesis Mean A= Mean B Alternate hypothesis Mean A = Mean B p value is the most important value in this section If p is less than or equal to 0.05 then you can REJECT the null hypothesis If p is greater than 0.05 then you FAIL TO REJECT the null hypothesis

What does the p value mean? The p (probability) value is determined by a statistical test called a t-test. Level of significance is set at 0.05 This means that 5% of the time, the differences observed between the weights of the 2 groups would be due to chance.

Lab report over Scientific Method will be due soon. Include the statistical analysis information –P values –Means –Statement of REJECT or FAIL TO REJECT Null Hypothesis and why you did so. Use outside references for background on mealworm nutrition.

Spectrophotometry Unit 3 Electromagnetic spectrum –All the available energy in the universe –Travels through space as a wave –Shorter wavelength-higher energy –Longer wavelength-lower energy Visible spectrum –Portion of the spectrum that humans perceive as color –Wavelengths range from 380(violet) to 720 (red) nm

Substances possess color because of their ability to absorb and transmit certain wavelengths. Chlorophyll absorbs wavelengths of red and blue light, green light is transmitted. The colors we see are the colors that are transmitted or reflected to our eyes.

Spectrophotometer Instrument used to determine absorption of different wavelengths of light View the parts of spectrophotometer

Exercise 3.1 Relationship between wavelength and color. View what colors are seen at different wavelengths.

Determining % transmittance and absorbance Blank and Unknown (ex 3.2) Blank –1 ml distilled water + 5 ml indicator solution Unknown (experimental) –1 ml unknown protein solution + 5 ml indicator solution Record readings on p37 for unknown on p 37. Readings for blank are not recorded here. Why?

Procedure for measuring absorbance 1. Turn on the Spec-20. Let instrument warm up for 5 minutes. 2. Set the wavelength with the wavelength control knob. 3. With the Mode Select button set the Mode to Transmittance. 4. With no tube in the sample chamber, set the transmittance to 0% with the zero control knob. 5. Wipe smudges of tube with KimWipe, then insert the blank and set the transmittance to 100% with the 100% transmittance control. 6. Change the mode to Absorbance. The absorbance should be Insert a sample and read the absorbance (OD).

Ex. 3.3 Standard Curve A standard curve will be developed using protein solutions of known concentrations. By comparing the unknown to the standard curve, you can determine the protein concentration of the unknown. Perform serial dilutions of known protein solution. Plot on graph on p 38. Also, plot on Excel program using instructions from p.212