Effect of Environment on Phenotype
Aim: To investigate the effect of one environmental factor on the phenotype of pea plants
Background Information: Pea seeds are available with identical genetic information for height - tall or dwarf peas. These seeds can be used to demonstrate the effect of the environment on the final height of the pea plants.
Tall or dwarf peas can be grown in identical conditions where all variables are kept constant apart from one environmental factor. Any differences in the height of the pea plants will be due to the environmental factor and not the genes.
Risks Assessment:
* Potting mixes contain microbes including bacteria/fungi
* Inhalation of dust may irritate the nose/throat/lungs
* Direct contact may cause skin/eye irritation
Safety Procedures:
* Avoid contact with eyes or skin
* Avoid breathing in dust
* Wear protective lab coats/gloves
Apparatus:
* 2 pot plants
* 2 labels
* 1 texta
* watering can
* 2 heaps of soil
* 6 pea plant seeds
* 10 mls of water
* 2 trays
VARIABLES:
Independent Variable: Amount of light given to the pea plant
Dependent Variable: growth and height of the pea plant
Controlled Variable: water, soil, pot size
Method:
1. First grab a pair of gloves and put them on
2. Choose any two same size pot plants and place them under the tap
3. Turn on the water so that it is softly flowing begin to mix the compost with the water and make it into a wet soil
4. Grab six seeds off of the teacher to be planted
5. Once done poke your finger into three central positions of the mix and plant the seeds in there( this should be about 2cm deep)
6. Cover the seeds and label the pot with your name and whether it is the one that goes into the light or the one that goes in the dark
7. Go and place the light one in the outside tray and the dark one in the cupboard tray
8. Water everyday 10mls approximately however on weekends make sure they are moist enough to last that period
9. Record your results every day and make an average for each type
Background Information: Pea seeds are available with identical genetic information for height - tall or dwarf peas. These seeds can be used to demonstrate the effect of the environment on the final height of the pea plants.
Tall or dwarf peas can be grown in identical conditions where all variables are kept constant apart from one environmental factor. Any differences in the height of the pea plants will be due to the environmental factor and not the genes.
Risks Assessment:
* Potting mixes contain microbes including bacteria/fungi
* Inhalation of dust may irritate the nose/throat/lungs
* Direct contact may cause skin/eye irritation
Safety Procedures:
* Avoid contact with eyes or skin
* Avoid breathing in dust
* Wear protective lab coats/gloves
Apparatus:
* 2 pot plants
* 2 labels
* 1 texta
* watering can
* 2 heaps of soil
* 6 pea plant seeds
* 10 mls of water
* 2 trays
VARIABLES:
Independent Variable: Amount of light given to the pea plant
Dependent Variable: growth and height of the pea plant
Controlled Variable: water, soil, pot size
Method:
1. First grab a pair of gloves and put them on
2. Choose any two same size pot plants and place them under the tap
3. Turn on the water so that it is softly flowing begin to mix the compost with the water and make it into a wet soil
4. Grab six seeds off of the teacher to be planted
5. Once done poke your finger into three central positions of the mix and plant the seeds in there( this should be about 2cm deep)
6. Cover the seeds and label the pot with your name and whether it is the one that goes into the light or the one that goes in the dark
7. Go and place the light one in the outside tray and the dark one in the cupboard tray
8. Water everyday 10mls approximately however on weekends make sure they are moist enough to last that period
9. Record your results every day and make an average for each type