Wisconsin Fast Plants-population variation and change, patterns of inheritance

Project questions/goals:

• Observe variation among a population of Wisconsin Fast Plants (WFP) and select for "favorable" traits over multiple generations.
• Observe how certain traits seem to be passed down through multiple generations of WFP's and test observed patterns with expected patterns based on Mendelian genetics.
• Observe the growth/development of a plant and highlight structural and developmental characteristics.

Questions to be answered and documentation through Week 1 (September 14, 2009)

1. Keep track of dates and observations made in class.  FYI, we planted the seeds on Thursday, September 10.  Everything done to the plants in class should be recorded here.
2. Answer the following questions on your Wiki:
   1. What is a seed? (how are topics of cellular reproduction and cell differentiation related to this question?)
      
      1. What are the components of a seed?
   2. What is happening when a seed "germinates"?  (how are topics of cellular respiration and photosynthesis related to this question?)
   3. Upload a photograph of one of your plants from week 1 or find a similar image to use.
      
      1. Identify significant structures/features of the plant.  Identified structures should also include a short explanation of its function.
   4. The topic of "variation" is a key concept for upcoming units.  List features with "variation" in your population of Fast Plants.  In a sentence or two, explain this "variation" and the "types" that you observe in the population.

Work to be done through Week 2 (September 21).  Due October 1.

1. As you did for Week 1, keep track of dates and the observations made in class.  Keep track of what you did to your plants.
2. Download this file: WFP-generation 1 trichrome data - Student.xlsx, (Office 2003 version).  This is an Excel worksheet with your class's trichrome count data.  I have already used a few functions to categorize the individual numbers into groups.
   
   1. Use the data on the spreadsheet to calculate the following: mean, median, and range of the dataset.
   2. Create a histogram showing the distribution of "hairiness" among the class population of plants.  The x-axis should be the categories (0-4, 5-6, etc.).  The y-axis should be the number of individual plants and fall into each category.  Label your histogram appropriately.
   3. Upload an image of your histogram onto your wiki page.

Note:  There is a fine line between plagirism and quoting information from a source.  For this project, NO TEXT should be directly quoted from any of your sources.  Look up enough resources so that you can describe the disease in your own words.  DO make a list of ALL of your references at the end of the Wiki.  If I see that you are simply "cutting and pasting" information from other sites, you will NOT receive any credit for this project.

Directions:

1. Use the "Create a Page" link towards the top right of the page. 
2. Name your new page according to the guidelines on the Frontpage of this wiki.
3. Once you created your new page, "Edit" this page using the tab towards the top left of this page.
4. Create a link to your group's page using the "Insert/Edit link" button.  Select "PBWorks page" under "page type" and select the page you just created from the drop down menu.

Links: 

Group 01; Doug O. and Neil S.

Group 02; Ricardo and Ashley H.

Group 03; Ben B. and Logan M.

Group 04; James R. Ed K.

Group 05; Mai-Lee P. and Connie W.

Group 06; Hannah A. and Sarah M.