Texas Wesleyan University

Supervised Research in Biology - Biol 3454, 4454 - Fall 2002

Take Home Problem Set

1. Valerian extracts have reduced aggressive behavior in laboratory mice. The mechanism is still not well understood. Male Beta fish were exposed to Valerian (Valerian officinale) by placing by adding 100 ml of 100mg/ml aqueous extracts of root powder into their tanks to fill the tanks to 1L. Pairs of male Betas were placed into a tank where they were separated by a glass barrier to establish which of the pair exhibits dominance by gill flashing, tail swiping and head on lunges. Counts of aggressive displays were collected for four pairs of betas before and after treatment with Valerian extract while they shared a tank while separated by a barrier for 30 minutes. How does valerian affect Beta behavior?

Pair one before valerian, Beta L flashed five times, swiped eight times and made four head on lunges, Beta S flashed four times, swiped six times and made two head on lunges. Following treatment with Valerian (only Beta L received the Valerian treatment), Beta L flashed three times, swiped three times, and made no head on lunges while Beta S flashed four times, swiped seven times and made two head on lunges.

Pair two before valerian, Beta L flashed eight times, swiped twice and made two head on lunges, while Beta S flashed twice, swiped three times and made one head on lunge. After treating Beta L with valerian, Beta L flashed once, swiped twice and made one head on lunge while Beta S flashed eight times and made five head on lunges.

Pair three before valerian, Beta L made 12 head on lunges while Beta S flashed twice, swiped twice and made one head on lunge. After treatement with valerian, Beta L made five lunges and swiped twice while Beta S flashed five times, swiped four times and made one head on lunge.

Pair four before valerian, Beta L flashed seven times, swiped eight times and made two head on lunges, Beta S flashed seven times, swiped twice and made two head on lunges. After treatment with valerian, Beta L flashed five times and swiped six times, Beta S flashed seven times, swiped thrice and made two head on lunges.

2. A tall Brassica rapa (Wisconsin Fast Plant) was crossed with a dwarf Brassica rapa. The resulting hybrid seed was grown to maturity and self pollinated. This F2 seed was planted and the mature plants' height measured. What do the data suggest?   Data

3. Forty-five female Texas Wesleyan University students were involved in a Medical Botany Experiment. Students were randomly assigned a number from one to three. Baseline heart rates were taken when students entered the laboratory. Group one drank an infusion made from the fruits of Tila (Ternstroemia lineata; Theaceae); each person drank 25 ounces of the infusion over a period of one hour. Group two drank 25 ounces of an infusion of Zapalote Blanco leaves (Casimiroa edulis; Rutaceae) over one hour. Students in Group three drank 25 ounces of decaffeinated tea (Camelia sinensis; Theaceae). Heart rates were taken a second time after one hour. Analyze the data obtained, showing graphic depictions of group comparisons and the statistical tests performed to interpret the results of this experiment. Data

4. One Hundred and Twenty adult males were used as test subjects to evaluate the effects of a new carbonated beverage called Guarana. Baseline blood pressure was taken 30 minutes before the test subjects were given either 16 ounces of Guarana or 16 ounces of a noncaffeinated cola. Analyze the data from this experiment providing graphic and statistical comparisons and an interpretation of the results. Data

5. The combined effects of nicotine and alcohol on liver disease were evaluated by exposing rabbits to diet rich in ethanol and nicotine. Both products were administered orally provided ad libitum over a two month period. Control rabbits were given water and a balanced solid diet. One group of rabbits was given 20 percent ethanol to drink and a balanced diet of solid food. A second group was administered nicotine in 20mg/ml concentrations in water and a balanced diet of solid food. The third group was given a combination of ethanol and nicotine with a balanced diet of solid food. What effects do these drugs have on rabbit livers? Data