BIO 1
Section 3
Dr. Pablo Delis
Joe Lahovski
9/17/09
Scientific Investigation Using Daphnia
This lab focuses on learning the scientific method. The exercises in this lab are
designed to teach a student the steps of the scientific method, how to develop a
hypothesis and a scientific experiment to test that hypothesis, organize data tables, and
present their data in a graph. This lab is broken up into three parts along with required
pre-lab research. The pre-lab research consists of examining the effects of caffeine and
alcohol on physiological processes. The first part of the lab is a basic review of the
scientific method and its steps. Part two consists of microscope practice for the student
to become familiar with the Daphnia magna. The third and final pat of the lab consists of
the scientific experiment into the investigation of the heart rate of Daphnia. The lab
group will develop a hypothesis and then execute an experiment to test it.
Part one is a detailed look at the individual steps of the scientific process. There
is a total of five steps in the scientific process. With each step that is reviewed, there is
a question that corresponds to the step that is being reviewed. The first step of the
scientific process is making observations and asking questions. Step two is developing
a hypothesis. In this step, possible explanations are developed to answer the questions
asked in step one. This step also explains the difference between a null hypothesis, the
suggestion that your experimental treatment will not have an effect on the dependent
