This class nicely related their Planting Science investigation of Brassica genetics in different environments with a separate, year-long project, of selectively breeding Fast Plants for increased hairiness. By comparing the two data sets, students were able to quantify a nature versus nurture explanation. This class nicely related their Planting Science investigation of Brassica genetics in different environments with a separate, year-long project, of selectively breeding Fast Plants for increased hairiness. By comparing the two data sets, students were able to quantify a nature versus nurture explanation. In the Planting Science experiment, this class grew Fast Plants in water and a 98 grams sucrose/L (just like a certain soft drink) solution and counted hairs on the first true leaves on the plant for a quantitative trait. The plants in sugar water grew 60% more hairs than the control in plain water. This was interesting, because, through three generations of selective breeding (using pollen from the hairiest plants in class and replanting seed from the hairiest plants grown) the class was able to increase average hairs per plant 104% in three generations. This allowed the student to compare the two experiments and have a clear distinction between the effects of environment and the effects of genetics on a group of organisms. Besides tying into an existing year-long project, the Planting Science experiment also sparked a scientific argument: yes, the selective breeding increase hairs more, but that was over three generations, not just the one generation that was exposed to sugar water. More experiments are needed!
-- Dan Maclean, Teacher