Instructions:
Read the scientific inquiry below. Use the data and your scientific knowledge, to complete the questions in each of the sections on the rest of this document. Place your answers, in the space provided and bold or change the color of the text of your answer. Once the assignment is complete, save it as a PDF document file. To submit this assignment, email the completed PDF document to your instructors email address by the due date/time. This assignment is to be done individually. Per the Angelina College student handbook, plagiarism will be will not be tolerated.
Scientific Inquiry:
A farmer wishes to determine which of the two fertilizers, Brand X or Brand Y, helps his corn crops grow at a faster rate in a five-week period of time. He asks his daughter, whom is a college freshman taking introductory biology, to design an experiment to help him test each fertilizer. They decide to grow three different crops of corn, each grown in a controlled environment, receiving the same amount of sunlight, same climate, soil type, and water. Crop 1 will receive no fertilizer during watering. Crop 2 will receive Brand X fertilizer while watering. Crop 3 will receive Brand Y fertilizer while watering. The farmer and his daughter performed the experiment and collect data on each fertilizer over a five-week period. Use the data, represented in Table 1, to complete the following assignment.
Table 1. Average height of corn plants when treated with Brand X or Brand Y fertilizer compared to corn plants not treated with fertilizer (control).
Time (T) in weeks
Control (cm)
Brand X (cm)
Brand Y (cm)
0
0
0
0
1
1.3
1.4
1.2
2
2.4
2.7
2.3
3
4.2
8.3
7.3
4
6.8
12.4
8.2
5
8.7
16.8
11.6
Section 1: Representation
Define each term or variable, with respect to the scientific inquiry.
Independent variable-
Dependent variable-
Control group-
Experimental group(s)-
Hypothesis-
Write the equation to determine the average growth rate, with the appropriate values included, for each corn crop type (control, Brand X, and Brand Y). Use the equation shown below.
Growth rate = (T5 â T0)/5
Control =
Brand X =
Brand Y =
Section 2: Calculation
Solve the equations generated, in question 2, for each corn crop type. You must show your work, in the space below, for full credit.
Control =
Brand X =
Brand Y =
Section 3: Interpretation
Analyzing the data table and the calculated growth rates, complete the following questions.
Which crop type grew the fastest? Explain your answer using factual information.
Which plant was tallest? Explain your answer using factual information.
What can you conclude about the treatment of fertilizer on crop growth? Explain your answer using factual information.
Section 4: Application and Analysis
What could happen if the temperature were not controlled during the experiment? Would this impact treatment effectiveness on plant growth? Explain your answer.
Do you think the same outcome would occur if pine trees were used? Explain your answer.
If a particular fertilizer works on corn crops, should we be using that fertilizer on all plants? Why or why not?
Instructions:
Read the scientific inquiry below. Use the data and your scientific knowledge, to complete the questions in each of the sections on the rest of this document. Place your answers, in the space provided and bold or change the color of the text of your answer. Once the assignment is complete, save it as a PDF document file. To submit this assignment, email the completed PDF document to your instructors email address by the due date/time. This assignment is to be done individually. Per the Angelina College student handbook, plagiarism will be will not be tolerated.
Scientific Inquiry:
A farmer wishes to determine which of the two fertilizers, Brand X or Brand Y, helps his corn crops grow at a faster rate in a five-week period of time. He asks his daughter, whom is a college freshman taking introductory biology, to design an experiment to help him test each fertilizer. They decide to grow three different crops of corn, each grown in a controlled environment, receiving the same amount of sunlight, same climate, soil type, and water. Crop 1 will receive no fertilizer during watering. Crop 2 will receive Brand X fertilizer while watering. Crop 3 will receive Brand Y fertilizer while watering. The farmer and his daughter performed the experiment and collect data on each fertilizer over a five-week period. Use the data, represented in Table 1, to complete the following assignment.
Table 1. Average height of corn plants when treated with Brand X or Brand Y fertilizer compared to corn plants not treated with fertilizer (control).
| Time (T) in weeks | Control (cm) | Brand X (cm) | Brand Y (cm) |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| 2 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.3 |
| 3 | 4.2 | 8.3 | 7.3 |
| 4 | 6.8 | 12.4 | 8.2 |
| 5 | 8.7 | 16.8 | 11.6 |
Section 1: Representation
Define each term or variable, with respect to the scientific inquiry.
Independent variable-
Dependent variable-
Control group-
Experimental group(s)-
Hypothesis-
Write the equation to determine the average growth rate, with the appropriate values included, for each corn crop type (control, Brand X, and Brand Y). Use the equation shown below.
Growth rate = (T5 â T0)/5
Control =
Brand X =
Brand Y =
Section 2: Calculation
Solve the equations generated, in question 2, for each corn crop type. You must show your work, in the space below, for full credit.
Control =
Brand X =
Brand Y =
Section 3: Interpretation
Analyzing the data table and the calculated growth rates, complete the following questions.
Which crop type grew the fastest? Explain your answer using factual information.
Which plant was tallest? Explain your answer using factual information.
What can you conclude about the treatment of fertilizer on crop growth? Explain your answer using factual information.
Section 4: Application and Analysis
What could happen if the temperature were not controlled during the experiment? Would this impact treatment effectiveness on plant growth? Explain your answer.
Do you think the same outcome would occur if pine trees were used? Explain your answer.
If a particular fertilizer works on corn crops, should we be using that fertilizer on all plants? Why or why not?
Related textbook solutions
Related questions
Norman Borlaug won the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for:
| His discovery that plant secondary metabolites play a role in defending plants from insects and diseases. |
| Creating the FlavrSavr tomato. |
| His discovery of the area of origin for maize. |
| His work to create improved, high yield crop varieties that helped to prevent starvation. |
| Producing the first transgenic plant. Which of the following best demonstrates evolution?
The repeated domestication of grasses (i.e., cereals) and legumes across the globe is likely because:
What is one type of information that can be gathered by archeologists who are studying dental caries (cavities) of ancient populations?
In discussing the origin of agriculture, the term demographic stress refers to:
In what way did Harlanâs theory give rise to Diamondâs theory?
Brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are all different varieties of the same species, Brassica oleracea. This group of plants demonstrates that crop breeding can lead to:
If a plant can grow well all by itself in the wild, yet still retains desirable agronomic traits, the plant is ____________________. Choose the single best answer The inability of plants to move makes it difficult for them to:
|
Vavilov hypothesized that in a crop plant's area of origin we should expect:
| Greater diversity for trans-domesticated species, but lower diversity for species domesticated in their area of origin. |
| Lower genetic diversity than in areas outside of the plant's area of origin. |
| Lower diversity for trans-domesticated species, but greater diversity for species domesticated in their area of origin. |
| Greater herbivore damage because of increased genetic diversity. |
| Greater genetic diversity than in areas outside of the plant's area of origin. ______________________ compounds are produced by plants, but are not necessary for the plant's immediate survival. However, they often help protect plants from being eaten. What is the difference between classically bred varieties and landraces?
|
In what way did Harlanâs theory give rise to Diamondâs theory?
| It recognized agriculture might have developed by different mechanisms in different parts of the world. |
| Both make the assumption that hunter-gatherers were (and still are) superior to agriculturists. |
| It recognized the reason agriculture did not develop in certain parts of the world was because people lacked the intelligence or skill. |
| It is a basic case of scientific plagiarism - Diamonds theory is identical to Harlans theory. |
| It recognized that agricultural societies were healthier and better fed than hunter-gatherer societies. What is the difference between classically bred varieties and landraces?
|
Choose the single best answer
The inability of plants to move makes it difficult for them to:
| Disperse seeds, defend themselves, and create oxygen. |
| Disperse seeds. |
| Disperse seeds and defend themselves. |
| Create oxygen. |
| Defend themselves. |
Vavilov hypothesized that in a crop plant's area of origin we should expect:
| Greater diversity for trans-domesticated species, but lower diversity for species domesticated in their area of origin. |
| Greater genetic diversity than in areas outside of the plant's area of origin. |
| Lower genetic diversity than in areas outside of the plant's area of origin. |
| Lower diversity for trans-domesticated species, but greater diversity for species domesticated in their area of origin. |
| Greater herbivore damage because of increased genetic diversity. |
What is one type of information that can be gathered by archeologists who are studying dental caries (cavities) of ancient populations?
| How many children the person had |
| The time of year the person died |
| How many conflicts they have been part of |
| The types of tools used for planting/harvesting grains |
| The type of plants they may have been consuming |
Brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are all different varieties of the same species, Brassica oleracea. This group of plants demonstrates that crop breeding can lead to:
| Low within variety and high between variety diversity |
| High within variety and low between variety diversity |
| Low within variety diversity |
| High within variety and high between variety diversity |
| High between variety diversity |
The repeated domestication of grasses (i.e., cereals) and legumes across the globe is likely because:
| Early technologies allowed early agriculturalists the ability to communicate with each other over long distances to discuss what plants were best for domestication. |
| Both already possessed all of the traits needed for domestication |
| Both contain almost all of the amino acids our bodies need to build proteins. |
| Human populations were often starving, and needed an additional food source |
| Only grasses, not legumes, were repeatedly domesticated |
Norman Borlaug won the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for:
| Producing the first transgenic plant. |
| His discovery that plant secondary metabolites play a role in defending plants from insects and diseases. |
| Creating the FlavrSavr tomato. |
| His work to create improved, high yield crop varieties that helped to prevent starvation. |
| His discovery of the area of origin for maize. |
______________________ compounds are produced by plants, but are not necessary for the plant's immediate survival. However, they often help protect plants from being eaten.
Which of the following best demonstrates evolution?
| A houseplant is moved to a sunnier location and it starts to grow more vigorously. |
| Your pet walks to the door when it hears your car in the driveway. |
| Over time, a gene for disease resistance becomes more frequent in a population of plants. |
| A crop has a higher yield after fertilizer is added. |
| A giraffe with a longer neck survives a drought year, while one with a shorter neck does not. |
In discussing the origin of agriculture, the term demographic stress refers to:
| Lower productivity of un-cultivated plants due to late-Pleistocene cooling. |
| A higher incidence of religious practice in societies following the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture. |
| The situation where human populations are greater than the carrying capacity of the environment. |
| Hobbes's assertion that hunter-gatherer groups did not posses the knowledge or skills to develop agriculture. |
| That the stresses on pre-domesticated plant species led to the development of traits that result in the "domestication syndromeâ |
What is the difference between genetically-modified and transgenic crops?
| Genetically-modified crops are produced using modern techniques, while transgenic crops are produced through classical breeding. |
| Transgenic crops are a type of genetically-modified crops, in which scientists have inserted genes from another species. |
| Transgenic crops are illegal, while genetically-modified crops are not. |
| They are the same. |
| Genetically-modified crops are a type of transgenic crop specifically bred for high yield. |
