BME100 f2014:Group30 L1

BME 100 Fall 2014	Home People Lab Write-Up 1 | Lab Write-Up 2 | Lab Write-Up 3 Lab Write-Up 4 | Lab Write-Up 5 | Lab Write-Up 6 Course Logistics For Instructors Photos Wiki Editing Help
OUR TEAM LAB 1 WRITE-UP Independent and Dependent Variables The independent variable is the amount of lipopolysaccharide given, since the lipopolysaccharide is the variable that will likely change or affect the dependent variable. The dependent variable is the amount of inflammatory protein, since the protein in each test subject is the variable that is influenced by the lipopolysaccharide, the independent variable. Experimental Design Groups Their will be 3 groups consisting of 10 subjects each, since an appropriate sample size is greater than 7 test subjects per experimental group. The groups will be divided based on the amount of lipopolysaccharide, ranging from 0mg for the control group (Group 1), 10mg for the Group 2, and 20mg for Group 3. Because research has shown that 10mg of the lipopolysaccharide is a good starting point for increasing the proteins, the control group will be set at 0mg of lipopolysaccharide as a way of showing that there is little to no effect on the protein when no lipopolysaccharide is used. The measurements of the lipopolysaccharide (in mg) per group will be set 10mg apart from each other in order to tell whether or not increased amounts of the lipopolysaccharide have different effects on the protein of each group. In addition, each group will also be varied on age and gender to avoid bias in the data collection for each group. Age In choosing subjects, they must be considered elderly, being in the age range of 60-70 years old, since the elderly typically have more heightened symptoms of inflammatory issues than younger test subjects. They must also have a history of inflammatory issues in avoidance of having more than one changing variable throughout the experiment. Number of subjects per group There will be 10 subjects per group, since each experimental group must have more than 7 test subjects. that will each be checked up on and tested weekly beginning one week before the lab begins. This will ensure that the results will show change. Subject Selection We will randomly select subjects from groups of male and female elders that both consist of a range of ages, and histories of inflammatory issues. We will give each of the possible subjects numbers and put the numbers in a hat to randomly select the 10 subjects for each testing groups. The selection from male and female groups will help to avoid any bias in terms of gender, and the selection of numbers from the hat will help to further randomize the data collection for the experiment. Sources of Error and Bias Possible sources of bias or error include: 1) Varying routines - Different doses of lipopolysaccharide could effect subjects differently due to different routines during the day, and different amounts of activity 2) Genetic differences - Subjects could react to the different doses of lipopolysaccharide due to differences in genetic make up 3) Gender differences - Males could react to the different doses of lipopolysaccharide differently than females do. The only way to avoid these possible sources of error is to randomize the selection of subjects so that each testing group is diverse, and implement the correct control groups. There will be a control group that is also randomly selected for, which will represent all of the possible sources of error listed above in a controlled fashion.