HERE IS THE LINK TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND THE SOURCE: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs_2K8/labs/BL_01/ In this experiment, you test the effects of different infestation levels by the insect, European Corn Borer (ECB) on the yields of two different varieties of corn plants, a BT variety and a non-BT variety. Choose either BT123 or BT456 corn. For the non-BT corn you may choose either Super harvest or Golden crop. Once you have chosen a BT variety and a non-BT variety, you must stay with those two varieties for all three comparisons. There is a RESET button in the lower right-hand corner of the lab screen that enables you to clear your experiments and to scroll through the combinations of varieties if the reset doesn’t match your original comparison. Instructions to Learners Please complete the Module 1 Virtual Lab, Dependent and Independent Variables, using the instructions within this document and not the Virtual Lab instructions. After completion of the lab, please submit a completed lab report following the lab report instructions (see course information). In addition, an Excel template is provided for data collection. Before beginning the experiment, create a hypothesis or prediction that describes the effect of ECB infestation level on corn yield. . Your hypothesis should state if you expect to see any differences between BT and non-BT corn with no ECB infestation. Then describe what you expect to see with low and high levels of infestation. You should include this hypothesis within your lab report and provide details on whether your prediction was accurate based upon the observed data. http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_01/BL_01.html For both corn varieties, follow the same instructions. Choose the two varieties of corn you plan to test and enter the names in first row of column C (non-BT) and column D (BT). Click and drag seed into a plant chamber. The seeds will be planted into all three pots automatically. Begin the experiment with no infestation. Click on Grow (bottom right corner). The plants will automatically grow and at the end of the growth period, you will be able to make measurements on the corn yield. Click and drag each corn ear from the three plants to the weighing dishes found below the chamber. Drag a weighing dish to the balance and record the weight of the corn yield into the appropriate cell within the Excel spreadsheet. After you have entered the weights of the corn yield in each column, calculate the average weight for each variety and enter that value in the yellow Average box in each column. The graph will fill in automatically as you enter the averages that you have calculated. Repeat the above steps using both low and high infestation of ECB. Save the Excel spreadsheet as M1 Exp 1 with your initials. For example, if your name is Rachel Griffen, it would be M1 Exp 1 RG. Prepare lab report which includes a title page, abstract, introduction (background information on scientific concepts with references), methods/materials, experimental procedure, results/discussion, conclusion and references. In the Methods section of your lab report, in paragraph form, write out the names of the corn you used and state your independent and dependent variables. Describe the conditions under which each of the varieties grew. Your goal is to provide enough information so that someone could duplicate your experiment by reading the Methods section. In the Results section of the lab report, also in paragraph form, write out a comparison of the BT corn to the non-BT corn for each of the three conditions using the average weights for each variety and condition. Refer the reader to the graph. Tell the reader how the corn looked in each condition. In addition, include the Excel table and Excel graph within your results section (with table/figure labels). In the Discussion section, compare your results to the hypothesis or prediction you made before you began and answer the questions in the Journal section of the experiment. Do NOT use the Journal area of the experiment to submit your lab report. Submit your completed lab report to the assignment submission dropbox. Repeat the process with the assignment dropbox to attach and submit your Excel spreadsheet. Submitted lab reports should follow the guidelines outlined in the Lab Report Guidelines document. Laboratory reports comprise 70% of your final grade and they are evaluated with the SLA Lab Report Rubric. If you would like more information about the rubric, please click on the link to the rubric. Lab report guideline Biology Lab Report Guidelines and Weights All reports should be double-spaced in an easy to read 12 point font such as Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman. Title Page – 1% The title page must contain the name of the experiment, the names of all lab partners, the course number and name and the date. Titles should be straightforward, informative and fewer than ten words. (i.e., Lab #4: The Effect of Temperature in the Ideal Gas Law) The Abstract – 10 % The abstract to a lab report is analogous to an executive summary for a financial or project report. It should summarize the essential aspects of the report, namely, the purpose of the experiment, key findings, and the major conclusions you presented later in the report. The abstract should be one paragraph between 100 to 200 words in length. Introduction – 5% The introduction clearly states the objective of your investigation and provides background information, theory, and previous work. Begin with a description of the background information that supports this type of investigation and gradually narrow the focus to your research question and a statement of your hypothesis. Methods In general, use past tense to describe what you have done and use present tense when you refer to existing theories, laws, and equipment. 5% - An accurate description of subjects and equipment used. 9% - Describe the procedure in detail that you used during the investigation. Use concise language to describe each step chronologically. The description needs to be clear and specific enough so someone can repeat the same experiment with similar results. Please do not cut and paste the materials and procedures from the module or the website, but write these sections in your own words.



http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs_2K8/labs/BL_01/