Station 1
http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m284u13M2Y1qk931ho1_1280.jpg
During the early 1900’s doctors began to have patients that had severe diarrhea, a
red rash and suicidal thoughts. These doctors began documentation of observations
and answers to questions posed to the patients with this disease. They were
determined to find the cause so that the disease could be treated. Some of the
patient observations documented were:
 64% of the people with the illness were women
 All had diet that consisted of mostly corn meal.
 the patients came from various locations (rural, suburban, farms, prisons,
apartment buildings, free standing homes)
 All were poor.
 Was not contagious (passed from person to person)
QUESTION: By analyzing the information above, what would be the most likely
cause of this disease?
ANSWER: The only thing that would have a direct effect would be the diet consisting
of corn. If diet were improved, then the patients would recover. Being poor does not
equate to being ill. Even though 64% of people with the illness were women, that
does not mean that ONLY women contract the illness. There is also no causal
indication in regards to living conditions, since the patients all lived in different places.
FYI: This disease is call pellagra and was prevalent among poor inhabitant of the
Southern US and prisons were nutrition was poor.
Station 2
For 4 decades government doctors, through the Public Health Service, compiled data
to investigate the question of how untreated syphilis effected the negro male in Macon
County, Alabama. The doctors conducted an experiment on 600 subjects. Three
hundred and ninety-nine of the subjects were part of a test group that were not given
any treatment. A control group of 201 subjects were given treatment for syphilis. The
doctors then collected empirical data compiled from observations and laboratory
results. Doctors were prepared to publish their findings when the test was completed.
Is this a biased experiment? (Bias: prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or
group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.)
ANSWER: This is a tough one that will most likely result in a lot of discussion. The
key is that to be bias, there has to be a comparison of one group to another that is
unfair. In this case, the test and control groups were compiled from the same group
of poor African American citizens of Macon County. The doctors clearly indicated the
demographics of the group of participants. However, there is an ethical consideration
that only “negro” males were studied and they were also refused treatment for
syphilis.
The doctors followed the scientific process in many ways.
 They had a problem they wanted to solve. The problem specifically states the
group the doctors wished to test. Bias is not shown in this regard due to it
being specified in the problem.
 Repetition: 399 experimental subjects
 Had a control group for comparison: 201 members
 Collected empirical data: observations and lab results.
FYI: The government was sued after the study was exposed by reporter Jean Heller.
A lawsuit ensued which was later settled for $10 million with the following allocation:
1. Living participants received $37,500 in damages
2. The heirs of the deceased participants received $15,000.
3. Lawyers: $1 million in legal fees
For more information: http:www.aabhs.org/tusk.htm
STATION 3
A biologist produced the Heating Curve for Water graph after accumulating data from
100 trials. Use the information provided in the graph to answer the question below.
Using the information provided by the graph, which of the following would be a valid
claim
1. Water heats up very fast.
2. It takes water longer to reach a boiling point of 100°C.
3. Liquid water takes 4 minutes to reach 100°C and begin boiling.
4. It takes 1 minute for water to completely change from solid ice to liquid water.
Answer:
3. Is a valid answer. As indicated by the graph, when ice completely changes state to
liquid water, 4 minutes lapse until the water reaches 100°C and begins boiling.
1. Is not a valid claim because there is nothing to compare how fast water heats up to.
2. Is not a valid claim. Longer than what?
4. Is not a valid answer because according to the graph it takes longer than 1 minute
to change.
STATION 4
A botanist collected the following data trying to support the hypothesis that there is no
difference in the size of petals and sepals of different species of irises.
number Sepal
length
1
5.9
2
6.9
3
6.6
4
4.6
5
6.0
6
4.7
7
6.5
8
5.8
Sepal
width
3.0
3.1
2.9
3.2
2.2
3.2
3.0
2.7
Petal Petal
length width
4.2
1.5
4.9
1.5
4.6
1.3
1.4
0.2
4.0
1.0
1.3
0.2
5.8
2.2
5.1
1.9
Species of iris
Iris- versicolor
Iris- versicolor
Iris-versicolor
Iris- setosa
Iris- versicolor
Iris-setosa
Iris-virginica
Iris-virginica
QUESTION: What must the botanist accomplish in order to write a viable conclusion?
ANSWER: Take measurements of more examples of each of species. The
experiment needs replication in order to provide enough data to produce an accurate
account of the measurements for each particular species of flowers. On another note,
units of measurement are missing from the data table. This would need to be
included so that another scientist would be able to replicate the study.
STATION 5
Scientists can make inferences through the observation of species.
QUESTION: What inferences (conclusions based on reasoning) can you make about
the three embryos shown above?
ANSWER: The students’ answers may vary, but should refer to how the 3 have
similar structures. Point out the spine, tail, umbilical cord, gill slits. See labeled image
below.