This site will provide information to help you complete a scientific research experiment dealing with the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana.

The following document contains a detailed description of the way this research project will be carried out, and the expectations placed upon you:

Background: 

Arabidopsis thaliana is a model organism commonly used in genetic experiments. Before starting your experiment, ask yourself the following questions:

• What changes do the plants go through as they grow?

• How long does it take for the plants to be fully grown?

• What measurements should I take while the plants are growing?

• What will the difference be between the wild and the control plants (both positive and negative)?

If you do not know the answers to these questions, take the time to do some background research!  The following resources can help:

Timeline of Arabidopsis Growth Virginia Tech Arabidopsis Videos

Goal: The purpose of this experiment is to compare and contrast how normal (wild-type) Arabidopsis plants and genetically modified Arabidopsis plants react to a stressor.  

Here are a number of things to keep in mind as you complete the experiment:

• The point of the research - Why are you conducting this experiment in the first place?

• The organisms - What are the differences between the wild-type plants and the genetically modified plants?  How might these differences affect the ways in which the plants respond to stress?

• The data - You cannot go back in time to make observations you might have missed, so take good notes the first time around!

  • • Always record the dates during which you collect both qualitative and quantitative information.  

    • Record measurements and descriptions of what you see in detail.

    • All groups should use the following colors for labels and graphs

      • Negative Control (Wild type Col-0) - Blue Line

      • Positive Control (Transgenic line with PR1::RUBY 1.6 or 2.4) - Red Line

      • Experimental Group (Your school specific variable) - Green Line

Grade Calculation

Your Grade will be calculated as listed below:

Component 2: Overall Scientific Lab Report prepared by each student (30%) 

Component 3: One scientific poster prepared by assigned students (15%) 

Component 4: One presentation prepared by assigned students (15%) 

Component 5: Questions to be created on the workday and asked on the presentation day (10%)

Component 6: Class website prepared by lab groups (15%)

Component 7: Presentation Notes and CER (10%)

Component 8: Group Grade (10%) (This will be a google form from your teachers)

** Presentation Day Roles: These are determined on or before 11/5.**

• Presentation 

• Questions/Website

• Poster 

*** For breakdown of components see the Home Page ***

THIS OVERALL PROJECT GRADE WILL COMPRISE 10% OF YOUR SEMESTER GRADE