Experiment Generator Activity
Flower Dying
Plants take up water normally through their roots which allows the plant cells to balance the water needed for its processes. When flowers are cut they can take up water through their stems also, in a process known as transpiration. When the water is taken up by the plant it attempts to balance the amount of water around the cells as well as within the cells. This is dependent on the concentration or amounts of salts and sugars inside the cell as compared with the water. If there is an imbalance the water will move in the direction to correct this imbalance. The following experiment will demonstrate this process and allow students to infer impact certain solutes have on plants. This experiment mirrors Jillian's work as it also demonstrates how changes in the environment have impacts on an organism.
- The activity involves the process of osmosis.
Osmosis is the process by which water moves across a partially permeable membrane from a region where it is more concentrated to a region where it is less concentrated. In other words water moves from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution.
Osmosis:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aubZU0iWtgI
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The cells and solution they are immersed in want to maintain an even amount of water and solute concentration. In this experiment when flower is immersed in dyed salt water that is more concentrated than the solution in the flower cells, the flower cells will want to loose water to even out the salt to water ratio in the solution they are in. Therefore, the flower will not be absorbing the water and dye.
In the normal water (dilute) solution. The flower cell will have a higher concentration of solutes compared to the solution the flower is in, therefore the water will travel into the cell, taking the dye with it.
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Background Knowledge
Experiment Generator Activity
A major part of Jillian's research is around testing on animals particularly fish. This type of research comes with a lot of things that need consideration when beginning and most importantly the ethics around testing on animals. Ethical considerations are so important when designing an experiment.
Jillian has made a video that explains her process for selecting the an experiment and an selecting an animal. She explains the use of the 3R's process that helps to minimise the process. In this activity students will roll dice to design an experiment and use the sheet to develop an experiment and then discuss the ethics around the experiment.
Background Knowledge
What is ethics:
‘Animal ethics examines both human-animal relationships, and how humans should treat animals’
http://onewelfare.cve.edu.au/animal-ethics
https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/research-policy/ethics/animal-ethics
Background Knowledge
What is ethics:
‘Animal ethics examines both human-animal relationships, and how humans should treat animals’
http://onewelfare.cve.edu.au/animal-ethics
https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/research-policy/ethics/animal-ethics
A major part of Jillian's research is around testing on animals particularly fish. This type of research comes with a lot of things that need consideration when beginning and most importantly the ethics around testing on animals. Ethical considerations are so important when designing an experiment.
Jillian has made a video that explains her process for selecting the an experiment and an selecting an animal. She explains the use of the 3R's process that helps to minimise the process. In this activity students will roll dice to design an experiment and use the sheet to develop an experiment and then discuss the ethics around the experiment.