Type Of Homeostasis Observed: Blood Sugar
Assignment
Our assignment with this project was to design our own experiment, to prove using one way or another, how the body maintains homeostasis in that system. For this project, my group chose to work with the body's blood sugar levels, by designing an experiment to show how the body keeps blood sugar levels at a constant number.
Our Article and Poster
For this project, we were required to create lab write up as well as a poster to present our evidence to the teacher. We were required to include multiple sections as well as write out our data and analyze it in detail. Everyone in our group divided the work and we all took different sections for the lab write up, I was responsible for the conclusion as well as the abstract.
Content
- Homeostasis- Describing the state of equilibrium the cells strive to keep themselves in. All bodily organs and functions work to maintain homeostasis as much as possible.
- Blood Sugar- The amount of sugar in the body that can be measured via the bloodstream, in our experiment we mainly focused on the blood sugar levels to gather our data.
- Insulin- Hormone produced in the pancreas to lower blood sugar. Insulin was the hormone the body produced more of on the first day to keep up with the extra sugar intake in the diet.
- Glucagon- Hormone produced by the Pancreas to increase the body's sugar production to make up for when the body lacks the correct sugar intake.
- Pancreas- An organ in the body that sits near the stomach and controls the body's sugar intake, by means of controlling how much sugar goes into the blood. It does so by producing important hormones: Glucagon and Insulin.
- Independent Variable- The unpredictable piece of the experiment, that is measured and used to get results. Our independent variable was the blood sugar levels of our test subject.
- Dependent Variable- The variable that's own results rests on another variable, it is out of the control of those preforming the experiment but still plays a very important role in gaining final results.
- Controlled- Everything else in the experiment that is already regulated or under control.
- Feedback loops- When the body triggers a reaction to keep the body in homeostasis so it can have a stable condition. A response is created and repeated until the body is where it needs to be to maintain homeostasis.
- Positive- Loop that is programmed to bring more, or has a positive response. Ex: the body heating itself up when the exterior environment is too cold.
- Negative- Loop that is programmed to reduce a response thus creating a negative response. Ex: The body cooling itself down when the exterior environment is too warm via sweating.
Scientific Method
The Scientific Method is a universal process used by scientists to design experiments and gather research. It is used globally, by all scientists due to it's effectiveness and strict procedures.
1) Asking a question/ Identifying an Issue: The process of the scientific method typically starts with one asking a question or identifying an issue and designing a question to solve the issue in question. This is what the experiment will center around and focus on.
2) Gather Research: When devising and experiment it is likely that someone has already done work in the same or similar field, check around for already known research that will help you in setting up your procedure as well as regulate your results. You can also gather research for future experiments.
3) Create a Hypothesis: The hypothesis is usually in the form of an "If ______ then ______" statement. This is the statement being proven true or false. It is important for the hypothesis to be measurably testable, because the procedure will be modeled after it.
4) Design a Procedure: In this part you set up and design an experiment to answer your hypothesis. While designing your experiment, you want to make sure you have access to the needed resources and equipment, and a way to record your data. For our experiment we used a Glucometer to measure the subjects blood sugar and we had easy access to the foods needed for our subject to consume.
5) Preform the Experiment & Analyze the Data Recorded: In this piece after you have everything together, then you must preform your experiment and record the data as you go along. It is important to check that you have everything correct and ready before continuing otherwise your data will not be accurate. Take close notes and observations if needed. After the experiment is fully completed, analyze the data for patterns or anything that could detail possible results or outcomes.
6) Conclusion: After all the data is organized and analyzed it is important to draw a conclusion from your data. At this point you will return to your hypothesis and based on the data you have collected you will determine if it is true or false.
7) Share Results: Now it is important to compile all your research, your hypothesis, and your conclusion into a lab write-up and/or a poster detailing your finds. It is important to communicate your results and findings for others so that they can use it to perhaps explore further topics in the same area or preform the same research.
1) Asking a question/ Identifying an Issue: The process of the scientific method typically starts with one asking a question or identifying an issue and designing a question to solve the issue in question. This is what the experiment will center around and focus on.
2) Gather Research: When devising and experiment it is likely that someone has already done work in the same or similar field, check around for already known research that will help you in setting up your procedure as well as regulate your results. You can also gather research for future experiments.
3) Create a Hypothesis: The hypothesis is usually in the form of an "If ______ then ______" statement. This is the statement being proven true or false. It is important for the hypothesis to be measurably testable, because the procedure will be modeled after it.
4) Design a Procedure: In this part you set up and design an experiment to answer your hypothesis. While designing your experiment, you want to make sure you have access to the needed resources and equipment, and a way to record your data. For our experiment we used a Glucometer to measure the subjects blood sugar and we had easy access to the foods needed for our subject to consume.
5) Preform the Experiment & Analyze the Data Recorded: In this piece after you have everything together, then you must preform your experiment and record the data as you go along. It is important to check that you have everything correct and ready before continuing otherwise your data will not be accurate. Take close notes and observations if needed. After the experiment is fully completed, analyze the data for patterns or anything that could detail possible results or outcomes.
6) Conclusion: After all the data is organized and analyzed it is important to draw a conclusion from your data. At this point you will return to your hypothesis and based on the data you have collected you will determine if it is true or false.
7) Share Results: Now it is important to compile all your research, your hypothesis, and your conclusion into a lab write-up and/or a poster detailing your finds. It is important to communicate your results and findings for others so that they can use it to perhaps explore further topics in the same area or preform the same research.
Reflection
In this project, there were many areas that I found I struggled in. While it was not the most exciting project to partake in, it was important to build my leadership skills as well as my work ethic skills. I had many ups and downs working with my group, for the positives I put my best foot forward in this project with my writing and I helped with the data and working to create and perfect a procedure for our experiment. In this project I felt I learned a lot about utilizing the scientific method as well as utilizing my skills in writing in a more scientific sense with the lab write up.I felt that on this project particularly, I did extremely well with collaboration. However on this project as with all projects, I felt I had some points where I could have improved my work ethic. I felt as thought I could have offered to do more with a part in the experiment as well as pitched in more with the writing and the poster.