Biology Homework
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biology_101_homework_2.docxWeek 2 (Reading & Activities)
Experiment:
Researchers recently investigated whether or not coffee prevented the development of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) in laboratory mice. The mice used in this experiment have a mutation that makes them become diabetic. Read about this research study in this article published on the Science Daily web-site New Evidence That Drinking Coffee May Reduce the Risk of Diabetes as well as the following summary:
A group of 11 mice was given water, and another group of 10 mice was supplied with diluted black coffee (coffee:water 1:1) as drinking fluids for five weeks. The composition of the diets and living conditions were similar for both groups of mice. Blood glucose was monitored weekly for all mice. After five weeks, there was no change in average body weight between groups. Results indicated that blood glucose concentrations increased significantly in the mice that drank water compared with those that were supplied with coffee. Finally, blood glucose concentration in the coffee group exhibited a 30 percent decrease compared with that in the water group. In the original paper, the investigators acknowledged that the coffee for the experiment was supplied as a gift from a corporation.
Topic 1
What was the hypothesis of this experiment? (Reminder: Hypothesis is a statement.)
Discussion Topic Task: Reply to this topic
An individual can die after experiencing a high fever for a prolonged period of time. Using what you know about enzymes, explain why an individual who enters the emergency room with a high fever might be given an ice bath to lower his or her temperature.
Comment on 3 of your classmate's comments.
Student One:
The hypothesis for this experiment is that giving coffee to the lab mice with the same diet, and living conditions will reduce the risk of high blood sugar. Group one, that was given water will show a higher increase in blood glucose, compared to group two that was given diluted coffee. This group will show a big decrease in blood glucose in a five-week period.
Student Two:
The hypothesis for this experiment is that the test subjects (mice) will not develop high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) if they drink coffee. Two groups of mice will be tested to accept or reject this hypothesis. A conclusion will be formulated at the end of the experiment to validate whether or not a sample of test subjects who drink water are at higher risk for diabetes while the 2nd group of test subjects are at a lessor risk because of drinking coffee. All living conditions to include the food intake of each mouse are considered consistent.
Student Three:
The main hypothesis for this experiment is would giving the test subjects coffee for a certain period of time have any change on thier (the mice) blood sugar. As seen with group A, the water subjects, blood sugar rose throughout the entire experiment, given that both set of subjects were put in similiar environments, diet and living conditions. The mice that were given coffee dramitically lowered their blood sugar, further tests would have to be conducted to properly point out why this happend, is it the stimulants in coffee, its dehydrating effect, being that no other form of hydrant was introduced to the test subjects, and what properties in water actually raise blood sugar.
