This page should contain the following things:
Hypotheses
Explanation of Variable
Background on why the variable used was chosen
"Who We Are" information (class picture, etc)
Hypothesis: If an Arabidopsis thaliana plant is given 5 mg of Magnesium Sulfate per liter, it will grow better than if it is given no Magnesium Sulfate.
Magnesium Sulfate is a compound also known as Epsom salt, and is commonly given to plants to improve their growth. However, in high concentrations it can be harmful to the plant.
This variable was chosen because it is commonly used with plants, and thus it is important to know if the AAP6 gene is connected to it and how the removal of that gene affects its response to the chemical.
Hypothesis: Plants with the AAP6 gene (wild-types) will grow better than the plants without the gene (mutants).
The AAP6 gene is involved in unloading amino acids from the phloem, and it is unknown what its absence has on overall plant health.
It is important to know what the effects of disabling AAP6 on plant health will be in order to determine if it will be useful as a way to prevent fungal infections in agricultural plants.
Hypothesis: Plants given Magnesium Sulfate and without the AAP6 gene will grow better than wild-type plants not given Magnesium Sulfate.
Magnesium Sulfate helps plants grow better, and disabling the AAP6 gene might be detrimental to the plant, so balancing the two might help the plant overall.
If Magnesium Sulfate helps plants without the AAP6 gene function normally, it would be useful to create fungus-resistant plants for cultivation.