| Explore | We are trying to find out the extent to which different wavelengths (850nm far red light and full spectrum white light) affect the growth of the hypocotyl and the greening of the Mutant phyA-201 and the wild Ler. We will also see if Mutant phyA-201 will be able to recover in the white light after ten day in red light. |
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| Research Question | We want to see how the mutation on gene AT1G09570 on the wild Ler affects the photoreceptors, which will impact the plant’s greening and hypocotyl growth. |
| Predictions | If a phyA-201 mutation is placed under a far red light, then it’s hypocotyl will elongate, and it’s leaves will not be greener than those if it were under full spectrum white light. |
| Experimental Design | Materials: phyA-201, wild Ler arabidopsis, far red light, full spectrum white light, water, agar petri dishes, soil pellets, growth chambers, green color wheel, ruler Independent Variables: the wavelength of light the plant is under and how long it is under the light Dependent Variables: the length of the hypocotyl, the amount of chlorophyll in the plants, and if the mutant can recover in far red light after being in full spectrum white light We will control these by placing each of the plants in both lights (full spectrum white and far red) all day. We will also place sample of the mutant plants in red light for ten days and then switching them to the white light for ten more days. They will follow the same light schedule as the other plants. Everyday in class we will determine the amount of chlorophyll in each of the plants using a green color wheel. We will also measure the hypocotyl, and eventually the stem, daily. |
| Conclusion | While the phyA-201 mutants did not express any signs of growth in the far red light, they did germinate in the full spectrum white light. The chlorophyll level of the WT is one chlorophyll level less, in comparison to the mutants, when both were placed in white light for the entirety of the experiment. This was also the case with the recovery mutant and WT. The WT in far red light portrayed greater levels of etiolation, or an extreme amount of yellowing, than any other plant. |
| Investigation Theme | BRASSICA |
| Grade Level | High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12) |
| School Name | Glenbard East High School |
| Session | Fall 2018 |