Independent Variable: The amount of Lipopolysaccharide (in milligrams) in the body
Dependent Variable: The amount of Inflammotin proteins in the body
Experimental Design
Groups
Control Group: Males and Females given 0mg of Lipopolysaccharide
Group 1: Males and Females given 10mg of Lipopolysaccharide
Group 2: Males and Females given 20mg of Lipopolysaccharide
Group 3: Males and Females given 30mg of Lipopolysaccharide
Group 4: Males and Females given 40mg of Lipopolysaccharide
Group 5: Males and Females given 50mg of Lipopolysaccharide
Age
65-89 years old
Number of subjects per group
10 subjects, male or female (chosen by random selection), per group. A total of 60 subjects will participate in this study.
Subject Selection
Subjects, in the 65-89 year old range, will be selected at random from various areas of the country. This will prevent any bias from environmental conditions affecting the human body, as well as preventing the possibility of focusing on one specific lifestyle. Without focusing on specific lifestyles, various food sources can provide different nutrients for the body.
Before the selection process is finalized, a blood test will be required to be taken by each subject. The blood tests will be needed in order to analyze the amount of proteins present in each respective body before the experiment begins. Doing so, a before-and-after test may be performed in order to observe the change, if any, of proteins in the body, using the ELISA procedure.
In any case where the subject does not perform a blood test before the experiment, another subject will be chosen at random.
After the blood tests are performed, each group of subjects will consume the dosage amount. A proper amount of reaction time will be applied; then, the subjects of each group will perform another blood test, measuring and calculating the change, if any, in proteins, using the ELISA procedure. Data will be recorded and observed, respective to each testing group.
Sources of Error and Bias
- Resistance to the drug (lipopolysaccharide), as well as side effects, may affect the digestion of the drug, preventing the chemical compound from entirely affecting the human body and blood system.
- A high amount of pre-trial protein found in a subject's system may alter the accuracy of data recorded after the experiment.
- Contaminated blood samples may alter data recorded.
- Incorrect prescribed amounts of lipopolysaccharide dosages may produce skewed results.
- Proper fasting (12 hours) between pre-trial and post-trial blood tests may produce more reliable and accurate data.
BME 100 Fall 2013
