BME100 s2014:T Group3 L1

BME 100 Fall 2013	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 Name: Maria C. Morrow Name: Hannah V. Spehar Name: Kazhan Kader Name: Jaquelyn L. Corr Name: Sayer Aldaady LAB 1 WRITE-UP Independent and Dependent Variables The independent variable is the amount of the inflammation inducing agent (lipopolysaccharide). This is the independent variable because it is the variable being altered to determine its effect. The dependent variable is the amount of the inflammatory protein (Inflammotin) in the elderly. This is the dependent variable because its measurement depends on the independent variable (lipopolysaccharide). Experimental Design Groups 5 groups total 0mg of lipopolysaccharide will act as a negative control group because it is verifying that there is no effect and therefore that other factors won't cause the appearance of the protein. 2.5mg of lipopolysaccharide, 5mg of lipopolysaccharide, and 7.5 of lipopolysaccharide to test different dosages of lipopolysaccharide to determine the lowest amount which will produce an appearance of the protein. 10 of lipopolysaccharide will serve as a positive control because it has been previously determined through experimentation that this dosage increases the appearance of the protein. Age All of the subjects will be elderly, between the ages of 65 and 75 years old. This age range tests elderly subjects while decreasing the likelihood that other health factors will play a role in the appearance of the protein. Number of subjects per group There will be ten subjects of random age within the age range per group. The number ten was selected because it's a large enough number of individuals to identify a verifiable change, but a small enough number of individuals to make the experiment cost effective. Subject Selection The subjects will be between the ages of 65 and 75 and both male and female. The subjects will randomly be selected within this age range regardless of specific age and regardless of gender. A random selection will eliminate any biases. Exclusionary criteria will include individuals with pre-existing health conditions linked to inflammation such as arthritis because this could skew the results and would present an ethical issue because an excessive increase in inflammation could be severely detrimental to their health. The age range will act as a control. Sources of Error and Bias Potential sources of error include the inability to control every aspect of the subject's lifestyle such as diet and exercise, inability to recognize undiagnosed pre-existing inflammatory conditions, and the possibility of subjects having allergies to the lipopolysaccharide. Control for the inability to control lifestyle would be to minimize the amount of time the subjects are being studied to a number of hours in order to better control the subjects' lifestyles. This would include controlling diet, exercise, sleep, etc. for a period of ten hours. Control for the inability to recognize undiagnosed pre-existing inflammatory conditions would be to implement a health screening after the subjects are randomly selected, but before the subjects undergo treatment. Control for possible allergies would be to perform an allergy test with lipopolysaccharide after random selection of subjects, but before the subjects undergo treatment. Potential sources of bias include the location where the subjects are being selected from because different areas have different socio-economic and racial patterns and different geographical conditions such as altitude.