Title: Scientific Method Objective: 1) To carry out an experiment that use proper scientific method. 2) To application the scientific method in experimental study. 3) To study Tribolium behavior. Methodology: a) Specimen’s External Anatomy The specimen was obtained. The shell and body was examined with unaided eye and magnifying lens. The shell shape, color and texture was examined too. Number of legs, antennae, posterior appendages or brood pouches was observed. The outline of specimen was drawn. b) Specimen’s motion The specimen’s was watched underside as the specimen moving up a transparency surface.
The action of the feet and any motion was observed. The behavior of specimen also been observed. The specimen then allow to crawl on the hand and the feels and acts was been observed. Then the specimen was placed on a graduated cylinder. The different angle of cylinder and position of specimen was determined. The specimen was place on a meter ruler. The stopwatch are used to measure the time it takes to move. Results was recorded in the table. c) Specimen’s reaction to common substances The substances was chosen from powders and liquids. An expected hypothesis was recorded. The actual experiment was carry out to prove the hypothesis.
Results: a) Specimen’s External Anatomy | Unaided eye| Microscope | Shell shape| Oblong | Oblong | Color| Light brown| Dark brown| Texture | Smooth body | Smooth hairy body| Number of legs| 6 leg| 6 leg| Antennae | 1 pairs| 1 pairs| b) Specimen’s motion 1- The action of the feet and the motion that was observed are an abdomen of specimen move backward while the thorax move forward. It’s very active to climb the wall of graduated cylinder. 2- The behavior that might protect it’s from predators that was examined are its pretend to die, not moving, spread their wings and also curl their feet.
Same goes to protect it from elements, it will use the same ways to protect their self from the predators. 3- The behavior that appear to help it acquire food are use their antennae to detect the food and it also explore throughout the food especially in powder form to collect the food in a group. 4- The behavior that allow interaction with the environment is when the specimen was expose to the light, it become passive and run away from the light. 5- When the specimen’s crawl on hand, the person feel calm and ticklish this because the specimen is too small. – The position of specimen with different angle: Specimen| Direction moved| Comments| 1| 30°| Move up| 2| 45°| Move up| 3| 60°| Move down| 4| 90°| Stay down| 7- The speed of specimen: Specimen| Milimeter traveled| Time(sec)| Average speed(mm/sec)| 1| 150 mm| 21 sec| 7. 143| 2| 150 mm| 52 sec| 2. 885| 3| 150 mm| 31 sec| 4. 838| 4| 150 mm| 23 sec| 6. 521| 8- An expected hypothesis from the respond of specimen: Substance tested| Hypothesis about how specimen will respond to substance| Reasoning for hypothesis | Flour | Negative | Negative because flour does not have any sweet flavor. Dried milk| Positive | Positive because dried milk have a sweet flavor. | Fine sand| Negative | Negative because fine sand does not have any taste. | Water| Negative|
Negative because water does not have any taste. | Soy sos| Positive| Positive because soy sos have a sweet flavor. | Chili sos| Positive | Positive because chili sos have a sweet flavor. | 9- Hypothesis after experimental test: Substances tested| Specimen’s reaction| Hypothesis supported? | Flour | Tribolium move toward flour. | No | Dried milk| Tribolium move toward flour. | Yes | Fine sand| Tribolium move away from fine sand. Yes | Water| Tribolium move away from water. | Yes | Soy sos| Tribolium move toward soy sos. | Yes | Chili sos| Tribolium move away from chili sos. | No | 10- The factors that may have caused the specimen to be attracted to or repelled by substance are the smell of the substances and the dryness of the substances. 11- The specimen (Tribolium) more prefer for sweet and dry food or substances. Discussions: In this laboratory practical, it learnt more how to use the scientific method in proper ways for running an experiments. The scientific method is a method for conducting an objective investigation.
The essential elements of a scientific method are iterations, recursions, interleaving and orderings of the characterizations (Quantifications, observations and measurements), hypotheses (theoretical, hypothetical explanations of observations and measurements), predictions (reasoning including logical deduction from hypotheses and theories) and experiments (tests of all of the above). A hypothesis is a trial idea concerning the nature and connection of events. Hypothesis also can be a guide to make a prediction. Is not an sufficient to do a single experiment to test hypothesis. This because single experiment can prove a theory true.
Indeed, it is only in a colloquial and tentative sense that we can say a theory is ever “proven. ” As one subject said, “an experiment is a controlled approach to test the validity of a theory or hypothesis. No experiment can ever fully validate a theory as fact. ” A sample that goes through all the steps of an experiment but does not contain the factor being tested is control. The Tribolium use it antennae for protection. It use antennae to detect becoming predators. The criterion that used to formulate the hypothesis regarding specimen reactions toward various substances is the behavior of specimen.
This because Tribolium have their own behavior to adapt in the various type of condition and situation. Based on my opinion, it is important to perform an experiment numerous times in order to prove that the results are consistent and accurate. Tribolium castaneum is a member of the most species-rich eukaryotic order. The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, found wherever grains or other dried foods are stored, has a highly evolved kidney-like cryptonephridial organ to survive such extremely dry environments. The red flour beetle is a tenebrionid beetle.
It is a worldwide stored product pest. Red flour beetles attack stored grain products (flour, cereals, pasta, biscuits, beans, nuts, etc. ) causing loss and damage. They may cause an allergic response but are not known to spread disease and cause no damage to structures or furniture. The red flour beetle is less able to survive outdoors than the closely related species Tribolium. It has, as a consequence, a more southern distribution, though both species are worldwide in heated premises. The adults are long-lived and may live for more than three years.
Conclusions 1) The experiment was carry out with the proper scientific method. 2) The uses of scientific method to carry out an experimental study. 3) Tribolium have many behavior to adapt for survive. References Cecie Star, Christine A. Evers, Lisa Starr. (2008). Biology: concepts and applications 7th edition. United states of America Stephen. R. (2008). The genome of the model beetle and pest Tribolium castaneum. Retrieve on 13 March 2013 from. http://www. nature. com/nature/journal/v452/n7190/full/nature06784. html
