PROJECT DOCUMENT 1: Problem and Procedures
(Due to HSTA Teacher by November 15)
Instructions: If possible, use a word processing program to complete this form. Otherwise, type or print neatly. Use additional pages or the back of this page if needed.
Your name: Your HSTA Club:
Name(s) of other students working on project:
Title of project: Effects of UV Radiation Levels on Various Organisms
Type of project (check one): __ X _ Research ___Community Service
For the 2005-2006 school year, the approved IRB Human Subject research projects are Lifestyles Project and
HSTA Physical Activity projects. If you want approval for a different human subject project, please let Jenny or Cathy (jbardwell@hsc.wvu.edu, cathymmc@yahoo.com, 800-345-4267) know by December 1.
Any research on vertebrate animals must be “ACUC” (Animal Care and Use Committee) approved by December 15th. Discuss the feasibility of doing such research with your teacher before submitting this document.
Contact Jenny or Cathy for approval.
Describe your role and responsibilities in this project:
I am one of 12 investigators who will help to design the experiment and carry it out. My group of 4 students will gather the data and analyze it accordingly for the amphibian eggs.
Describe the problem or need that your project is addressing:
Depletion of the ozone layer surrounding the Earth has resulted in an increase in the amount of ultraviolet light that reaches the Earth's surface. At approximately the same time, increases in the incidence of skin and eye cancers have been observed. We will use this experiment to determine if there is a correlation between exposure to ultraviolet light and damage to cells.
We will investigate the effect of UV radiation over a prolonged period on amphibian eggs (21 days), yeast cultures (10 days), and beans (30 days). We will make observations of hatch rate and anatomical deformities of amphibians, colony reproduction of yeast, and bean production and F1 germination rate.
Explain why it is important to address this problem or need (include how it is related to health in your community):
As the chemicals that destroy the ozone hole reach an all time high in the next few years, the levels and effects of UV radiation should be monitored. All living organisms are exposed to these increased levels and the impact is currently being examined. We would like to contribute to this knowledge base.
The effects of UV radiation on other living organisms can act as models of how humans might be impacted by increased levels of UV radiation. Our results can provide us with knowledge of why we should protect ourselves from overexposure from the sun. We can share this newly found information with others in our community.
Answer only if you are doing research:
What is your hypothesis or research question(s)?
Specific levels of UV radiation will affect various organisms in different ways.
What are the independent and dependent variables involved in your project?
The independent variables of UV levels were for 21 days:
from a light source with mylar for 10 minutes
from a light source with cellophane for 10 minutes
from a light source with no filter for 10 minutes
from the sun between the hours of 8-3pm, with mylar
from the sun between the hours of 8-3pm, with cellophane
The dependent variables will be:
differences in egg production or growth, body structure of tadpoles
differences in yeast growth and structure
differences in bean growth, seed production, and F1 seed production
Provide a summary of the procedures you will follow to do this project (use additional paper, if needed):
We will investigate the effect of several levels of UV radiation over a prolonged period on amphibian eggs.
We will set up random samples of eggs from an identical batch and expose each sample to the 6 independent variables of UV levels (see above). Once the exposure time is completed after 21 days, we will allow the eggs to complete their germination and observe hatch rate and any anatomical differences.
Other collaborators will do the same procedure with identical numbers of replicates with yeast cultures.
The yeast cultures will be monitored for their ability to reproduce and continue growing on the media. Colonies will be counted after 10 days.
Other collaborators will do the same procedure with identical numbers of replicates with bean plants.
Bean seeds will be planted and observed until bean seeds are formed on the vine. These beans will be tested for germination viability.
Answer only if you are doing community service:
What is the community’s need and what are your desired outcomes?
Identify the major science/math concepts related to your project’s activities:
Provide a summary of your action plan to meet the community’s needs (use additional paper, if needed):
What are some references (including people) you used to help you describe your problem and procedures (research) OR community’s need and action plan (community service)? Please provide enough information (e.g., author, title of article, book or journal, URL) so others can find the reference.
Dr. Bill Peterjohn at Biology Dept., WVU (293-5201 x2510, bpj@wvnvm.wvnet.edu).
HSTA UV Module website: http://www.wv-hsta.org/TeacherInfo/NIH_Modules/uv/matter_activity2.htm
A.R. Blaustein et al. 1994. UV repair and resistance to solar UV-B in amphibian eggs: A link to population declines? Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Vol. 91, pp. 1791-1795, March 1994
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Signed by HSTA Teacher upon approval
Make a copy and forward this Document to your Field Site Coordinator upon completion