Bio+investigation

Maddie Burkett

The bean seeds are going to be put into different situations. We will have the small, medium, and large holes for boxes with mazes inside them. The mazes are all identical and used the same materials. We will see if the amounts of light for the different seeds will make them sprout faster or bigger. Also we will make sure we pay attention to coloration. Our main goal is to see if the seeds with the most light will grow the most, and the seeds with the least amount of light grow the least. This is also our expectation or hypothesis that the amount of light given to the plant will cause the plants to grow at different rates. We believe that photosynthesis and especially phototropism will play a key part in our experiment.
 * __Bean Sprouting__**
 * __Introduction__**

The experiment Bean Sprouting can relate to real life in a few different ways. For one thing the Bean Sprouting experiment can relate to how flowers and plants in our garden are grown. When getting a flower usually there is a tag that comes with it saying the best conditions for the plant to be grown in. Also we can learn about dehydration in humans from the flowers. We can tell how much light can absorb the water and how quickly which may help out scientists. Plants are very important to the environment and we need to know how they grow in different circumstances.


 * __Independent Variable(s):__** The independent variable is the light. For each sets of seeds the light level will be different.


 * __Dependent Variable(s):__** The dependent variables are the seeds. The seeds both have different amount of light given to them.


 * __The Materials needed are…__**
 * Soil (same amount for each plant)
 * Bean seeds (in our case we need 4 for each container so 12 seeds)
 * 3 containers
 * Cardboard boxes to create mazes
 * Tape
 * Scissors
 * Ruler
 * Lamps


 * //__Caution__//**
 * During this experiment be careful when cutting the cardboard
 * Also wash your hands when handling the soil
 * Lamps may be extremely hot when you touch!


 * Wowee this is fun! ||


 * I know I know ||

1) We created our box mazes. (we used the recycle paper boxes from around Mr.Happer’s room, make sure you keep the lids!) 2) We then made our mazes identical using the same shape and size flaps for the mazes. 3) Next we decided the size holes each box needed ( Lizas box has the biggest hole, Destinies had the medium size hole, and my box has the smallest hole) 4) We then each got 4 seeds and put them in the sunlight because our boxes were not ready yet. 5) For a class time they sat on the same window ledge in the sunlight 6) The next class we put them in the boxes in peatry dishes without soil in wet towels 7) We measured the light to be 10cm away from each box 8) After a few days of measurement we put our plants in soil 9) The plants began to grow and we watered them regularly at the same time as measuring the plants 10) Finally we put in plants that Mr.Happer had been growing because our plants were not growing fast enough. 11) We watered them regularly and measured them at the same time and we never put new soil in. 12) The plants always were put in the same space in the box!
 * //__The Procedure__//**

During this experiment we have a few different expectations. We mainly expect that the plants will grow more or larger dependant on the size of the hole in their box where the light is going through. This means that we expect the seeds that are exposed to the most light will grow the largest (Liza’s seeds) and that the seeds with the least amount of exposure to the light will grow the least (My seeds). From those measurements we expect that the plants exposed to the middle amount of light (Destinies seeds) will grow somewhere in between those measurements. The next expectation is that the plants will grow to be a decent size. We believe that under our different variables of light and water that the seeds will be able to grow into green plants. We are already starting to see the green coming out in the seeds but now they need more time to grow. Also we are expecting roots to start growing outwards within the plants. We have a few different expectations for our experiment but our main expectation depends on the amount of light given to the plants.
 * //__Expectations__//**

The **Basic** overview of our expectations….. 1. The box with the biggest hole will have the most well grown plants. 2. The box with the smallest hole will have the least well grown plants. 3. We expect the plants to grow differently. 4. We expect the plants to become green from working chloroplasts. 5. We expect the plants to grow roots.

Our experiment is located on page 640 in the Biology book. Although we have changed the experiment a little the basic experiment is explained on that page.


 * Day One:**
 * LIza: 0.9, 0.7, and 0.6**
 * Destinie: 1.1, and .4**
 * Maddie: .45, and .3**


 * Day Two:**
 * Bean Sprout Measurements: (centimeters)**
 * these are all approximate.**
 * Liza: 1.5, 1.4, 1.5, and 2.0**
 * Destinie: 1.2, 1.0, .9, 1.0**
 * Maddie: 0.3, 0.5, 1.0**


 * Day Three:**
 * Bean Sprout Measurements:**
 * these are all approximate.**
 * Liza: 1.5, 5, 1.3, 1.5**
 * Destinie: 1.2, 1.2, 1.5**
 * Maddie: 1, 3.5, .8, .6**


 * Day four:**
 * Maddie: [old] 1.4, 1.5, 1, and 4 cm**
 * [new] 20 cm w/ roots**
 * 10 cm w/o roots**
 * liza: [old] 2.5, 3, 4.2, 2.3**
 * [new] 15 cm w/o roots, 6 cm w/o roots**
 * Destinie:[old]1.5,1.5,2**
 * [New] 23 cm w/ roots**


 * Day Five:**
 * Maddie:[old]1.4, 8 w/root,**
 * [new] 7.5 w/roots, 9 w.roots, 5.5 w/ roots**
 * Liza[old]**
 * [new]**
 * Destinie [old] 2, 2.5, 1, 3 all w/ roots**
 * [new] 9 w/roots**


 * Day Six;**
 * Maddie: ALL SAME**
 * Liza: ALL SAME**
 * Destinie:ALL SAME**

//__Scientific Observations__//**
 * Day 1

· The lights to all of our experiments were turned off. · We took all of our seeds out and there was a yellow liquid in place of the water. · The seeds had absorbed most of the water.


 * What happened to my bean seeds….**

· Only two of my beans had sprouted the starting of there plants. · The tops that were shown in the light had reddish, brown tops to them. · The sprouts were white and were curved a little although my seeds sprouts were still short.


 * What we did to our seeds….**

· We decided to flip the seeds so the sides not in the sun would then be exposed. · Also we but a paper towel under water and put some more water in the Petri dish. · We decided since the seeds may not have had enough light for 1hr and 20 minutes. · We then put them back into the same boxes they were in before. (large, medium, small hole)

//__Scientific Observations__//** · Three of my beans have now sprouted · The tops and bottoms are now the same reddish brown color since the rotation of the beans towards the sunlight. · The sprouts are now starting to turn more of a green color.
 * Day 2

We then put the seeds back in under the same conditions ~ we gave the seeds more water ~ kept the seeds in the same soil ~ put them back in the same boxes ~with the same amount of light

Our observations from day three.....

Our Beans · Some of the beans are now starting to loose their shells · Some f the seeds are now starting to grow roots too. · One of my seeds and one of Lizas seeds were starting to grow the roots. ~The seeds soil has soaked up the water What we did..... ~We put the plants underneath the light altogether during class time ~ We watered all the plants ~The plants roots have clinged to the dirt.

Our observation day 4... · Some of the beans are now still losing their shells · The seeds roots are growing out · The bigger plants that we just put in the container are having all different kinds of reactions. ~ Destinies new plants seem to be moving around the maze towards the light ~Lizas does not seem to be growing towards the light but just sitting their ~My new plants and old seeds are both acting very different my old seeds are still growing but my new planta dont seem to be growing very much, there is possibly one that it begginging to move towards the light. · We also rewatered the plants and kept then under one light on the second level during the time of our class. One of the problems that occured for me was that the roots of the plants are now linking together making it very difficult to measure the plants accurately. Also the new plants we have are all green and are starting to sprout leaves. My expectations are similar to my observations in a few ways. We expected my plants or seeds to grow the least because the least amount of light. Also we expected that all the plants would attempt to grow towards the light because of phototropism. These things all happened in our experiment but a few things happened that we didn’t expect! We thought that Liza’s plants would grow the most but in this case Lizas plants died down and Destinies plants grew the most. We believe that there needs to be a balance in light and water and Destinies plant achieved that balance. I now wonder that if the plants were given the same amount of light but different amount of water that the outcome of growth would be different. We could then learn if there really needs to be a balance or if certain plants just end up growing better!
 * Discussion**


 * Appendix 1**


 * __Words to know__**

1. Buds- Contain undeveloped tissue that can produce new stems and leaves. In the spring some flowers buds bloom.

2. Embryo- Is an organism in its early stage of development. The embryo contains the beginning of a plant.

3. Epidermal Cells- The outer covering of a plant of dermal tissue, which typically consists of a single layer of epidermal cells. Many plants have epidermal cells to protect the easily harmed tissue within the plant.

4. Fibrous Roots- Roots that branch to such an extent that no single root grows larger than the rest. Fibrous roots grow out like little strings unlike how carrots grow.

5. Leaves- Are photosynthetic organs that contain one or more bundles of vascular tissue. Leaves grow on trees, flowers and many different plants.

6. Lignin- A substance that makes cell walls rigid enables vascular plants to grow upright and reach great heights. Lignin is needed in plants so that the plants don’t fall over when growing!

7. Mesophyll- A specialized ground tissue found in the bulk of most leaves. Many leaves contain Mesophyll, a type of healthy tissue.

8. Nodes- Stems contain nodes and these are where leaves are attached. Stems have small nodes that usually become a bigger part of the plant.

9. Phloem- Transport solutions of nutrients and carbohydrates produced by Photosynthesis. Phloem is an important part of a plant because it carries nutrients to help the plant grow.

10. Plants- Plants are multicellular eukaryotes that have cell walls made of cellulose. They develop from multicellular embryos and carry out photosynthesis using the green pigments chlorophyll a and b. Plants grow all over the world creating a healthy environment and providing food.

11. Roots- Are underground organs that absorb water and minerals. Plants have roots that grow and spread out underground.

12. Root Hairs- Tiny cellular projections that cover the roots epidermal subsystem. Root hairs help the roots grow outwards, helping the plant collect more nutrients.

13. Seed- An embryo of a plant that is encased in a protective covering and surrounded by a food supply. Seeds are the begging to many plants and are the base of a plant.

14. Seed Coat- Surrounds and protects the embryo and keeps the contents of the seed from drying out. The seed coat provides protection to the new seed that will start to grow.

15. Sieve Tube Elements- The main phloem tubes. The sieve tube elements provide a passageway within the plant so particles can get through.

16. Stems- Supporting structures that connect roots and leaves, carrying water and nutrients between them. The stem of a plant is the main structure that holds up the whole plant.

17. Tracheids- The first vascular plants new type of cell specialized to conduct water. Tracheids take care of water distribution throughout a plant.

18. Veins- Vascular tissue is gathered in veins, and is made of xylem and phloem. Veins spread through the plants and create passageways.

19. Vessel Element- A type of xylem found in Angiosperms. The vessel element is yet another passageway for water and proteins to get around in the plant.

20. Xylem- A transport subsystem that carries water upward from the roots to every part of the plant. Xylem is needed in many plants because it is one of the main suppliers of water that is necessary for a plant to grow.


 * Appendix 2**

Pg.634 from Chapter 25 A main concept that was part of our experiment is called Phototropism. Wondering what phototropism is? Well Phototropism is how a plant usually grows towards its light source. Many people have done experiments to show phototropism. In a scientists experiment conducted by the Darwin’s there were a few special things discovered about auxins in phototropism. You may now be asking what auxins are! Well auxins form during phototropism. Auxins are on the stem and they form towards the light. They go towards the light causing a higher concentration on one side and making the plant go towards the light source. This is why a plant will bend in the certain way! The second part to how phototropism occurs is hormones! All plants have hormones which make them grow. Certain cells that are within the plant affect certain areas more than others. These hormones within the plant make the plant grow and when working with the auxins the plant will grow in a certain way. All the cells work together within the plant to achieve phototropism.


 * Light is going in the same direction for both plants ||
 * The plant begins to bend towards the light source and the tip has come off. ||
 * Opaque cap that begins on the tip of the plant ||
 * Opaque cap that begins on the tip of the plant ||
 * Opaque cap that begins on the tip of the plant ||


 * //The Scientist Charles Darwin//**

Charles Darwin is the scientist who came up with the discovery of the theory Phototropism. He had many ideas that had to do with plants and he created books such as The Power of Movement in Plants and kept close records of his plants throughout his time.

In a direct definition photosynthesis is the process in which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches. This means that this is how plants make their food and survive. Plants get their green coloring from this process too. Below I show how a chloroplast conducts Photosynthesis. The chloroplast has an input of mainly light water and CO2 it then comes out of the plant as something completely different, it comes out as sugar for the plant and as O2. Photosynthesis is how a plant makes its food and grows.
 * __Photosynthesis__**

This picture can also be found in our biology textbook on page 209 figure 8-7

References

Miller KR, Levine JS. Biology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall; 2006: Page numbers 551-565; pgs. 579-590; pgs 621-623; pgs 633-646