Name ___________________________________

Period_______

Exploring the Genetics of Taste

How come some things taste good and some things taste bad? Why do I like the taste of celery but some people cant stand it?

EW! You like WHAT?! Eat your broccoli! What if the reason you detested a certain food was actually more than obstinance or personal preference? Well, it could be. Scientists have discovered that there is a genetic component to tasting certain things, particularly things that are bitter. A simple taste test of a paper soaked in phenylthiocarbamide, or PTC, can identify whether or not you have a specific gene that makes you more sensitive to bitter foods. PTC paper either tastes bitter to some people or is virtually tasteless to others. Over the course of the next week or so, our job is to figure out if commonly disliked foods are a result of genes or just personal preference. Oh, and well also be working on developing the skills needed to understand and communicate what we learn from experiments to others.

CHALLENGE!
Create and perform an experiment that proves beyond a reasonable doubt whether the tastes of certain foods is genetic or just a personal preference.
Remember when I made you taste PTC paper? Some of you tasted nothing, but some of you experienced a bitter taste. This data will be our baseline for comparison against new self-designed taste experiments to discover if other foods are also marked by the same bitter genes that make that PTC paper taste so nasty. This project is really fun, but before we dive in head first, lets remember a few important things: 1. We are scientists! lets think and act like them. 2. We are not here to judge each other - regardless of what our results say, we are to treat each other with kindness and integrity. 3. This lab has some really important deadlines...Imagine showing up on taste-test day without your materials, or without a clear hypothesis or procedure! what would you do!? Itd definitely be a bummer for you and your lab group (howd you collect your data!?), and youd also let down the rest of the class who was excited to be your taste subject. Be sure to review dates and deadlines, and if you need to set reminders or alarms for yourself to bring something on a certain day...by all means, DO!! As always, assignments and deadlines will be posted on the course assignment log at sites.google.com/site/halebiology It will take some mind-yoga to stretch our thinking to make connections and come to solid conclusions about what the results of experiments tell us. Asking questions and looking for the answers from within your experimental design and the results of your taste tests will help you prove or disprove your hypothesis. Work with your lab group to puzzle out the details of your experimental design and conclusions, but every person is responsible for turning in a lab report. Getting Started -- Fill in:

What makes a good scientific experiment?

List 4 things scientists should always do: 1. 2. 3. 4. Define: Controlled Variables (at least 3): Manipulated Variable: Responding Variable: Experimental Control: Hypothesis: Procedure: Data Table: Sources of Error: Reliability: Validity:

Checklist for Challenge Completion ___ PTC taste test and data analysis Circle one: I am a Strong Taster / Weak Taster / Non-taster ___ Develop a Testable Question ___ Develop a hypothesis ___ Hypothesis peer critique ___ Materials list -- remember to include palate cleansers! ___ Procedure ___ Procedure critique ___ Make a data table ___ Prep and bring your materials ___ Test your experiment! Collect data ___ Graph results in logbook ___ Write and submit a lab report Use this checklist to make sure youre covering all of your bases for this project!

DEADLINES! Procedure Due : - You will need it for in-class workshop! Experiments: - Make sure you have your materials! Cl-Ev-R Conclusion Due: - You will need it for in-class workshop! Final Lab Report Due: - Turn in your draft and final conclusion

Keep track of deadlines and other homework assignments in your LOGBOOK (which is due on W/Th 4/2-3)

Name _______________________________ Period_____

Sample Genetics of Taste Experiment : Procedure 0 Plan a controlled experiment to answer the question in the box. You may use any materials and equipment in your procedure. Be sure your procedure includes:
logical steps to do the experiment three controlled (kept the same) variables one manipulated (independent) variable one responding (dependent) variable how often measurements should be taken and recorded

Question: Do the same genes that code for the ability to taste PTC tasting also code for the ability to taste Sodium Benzoate and Thiourea? Hypothesis: 3 Controlled Variables:

1 Manipulated Variable: 1 Responding Variable:

Procedure:

Name _______________________________ Period_____

Sample Genetics of Taste Experiment: Conclusion 4 Write a conclusion for the sample controlled experiment.

In your conclusion, be sure to: Answer the experimental question. Include supporting data from the class data table. Explain how these data support your conclusion. Provide a scientific explanation for the trend in the data Question: Do the same genes that code for the ability to taste PTC tasting also code for the ability to taste Sodium Benzoate and Thiourea?

Conclusion:

Self-Scoring Rubric for Sample Conclusion CLAIM Answers your original question and states whether or not your data support your hypothesis.
Example: In this experiment we found that.. As X (manipulated variable) increases/decreases, Y (responding variable) increases/decreases. The higher/lower the X (manipulated variable), the higher /lower the Y (responding variable)

Yes or No?

EVIDENCE Uses specific data to support your claim. Uses actual numbers and correct units Example: When the [manipulated variable] increased/decreased from ___ to
___, the [responding variable] increased/decreased from ___ to ___/

Uses the average of multiple trials. Example: the average increase in [responding variable] was ____ over all trials. States the high point and the low point of the average data and test conditions. States the difference between the high points and low points in the data.

The [responding variable] was highest at ___ when and the [responding variable] was lowest at ____ when This is a difference of ______.

Describes observations, patterns and trends you observed. REASONING Explains how the data supports your conclusion. Connect or compare the data to your claim. Explain the numerical difference between the high and low data Explain the descriptive difference within the data Example: X was present Explains why the data do or do not make sense based on scientific knowledge The Y responding variable changed because of ______scientific explanation__________. TOTAL SCORE Give yourself 1 point for Yes, 0 Points for No and add up your total score here

Author ______________________________Per______ Editor_____________________________

Your Genetics of Taste Experiment: Procedure 0 Plan a controlled experiment to answer your experimental question. You may use any materials and equipment in your procedure. Be sure your procedure includes:
logical steps to do the experiment three controlled (kept the same) variables one manipulated (independent) variable one responding (dependent) variable how often measurements should be taken and recorded

Question :

Hypothesis :

3 Controlled Variables :

1 Manipulated Variable : 1 Responding Variable : Procedure :

Author ______________________________Per______ Editor______________________

Your Genetics of Taste Experiment: Conclusion 4 Write a conclusion for your controlled experiment.

In your conclusion, be sure to: Answer the experimental question. Include supporting data from the class data table. Explain how these data support your conclusion. Provide a scientific explanation for the trend in the data Question:

Conclusion:

Stumped? Check out this Sample Taste Experiment Maryalice, Courtney, and Andrew wondered if there was a connection between the ability to taste PTC and a persons ability to detect grapefruit juice when it was mixed in to orange juice. Remember, people who have the receptors to taste PTC describe it as very bitter. Testable Question: Can PTC tasters detect bitter grapefruit juice when it is mixed in with orange juice? Hypothesis: IF a group of people is offered three blind samples, two consisting of only orange juice, and one consisting of 2 parts OJ and one part grapefruit, THEN the PTC tasters will be able to detect the sample that contains grapefruit juice BECAUSE they will dislike the bitter flavor of the grapefruit juice. Materials: per subject: 1 cup, 3oz OJ 1 cup, 3oz OJ 1 cup 2 oz OJ+1oz Grapefruit Juice 120 unsalted crackers (for palate cleansing) Cups of drinking water Data tables Blindfold Procedure 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Ask subject if they are a strong, weak or non-PTC taster bindfold subject give subject a cracker and a sip of water have subject randomly select and drink a sample of juice record result as detects Grapefruit or doesnt detect grapefruit Repeat for each juice sample repeat experiment on all of our classmates

Data Table OJ PTC tasters Doesnt detect Detects PTC Non-Tasters Doesnt detect Detects OJ OJ+GF