Q Small Scale Science Project #1: Wisdom Teeth Study Background We are studying the interplay between biology and behavior. A good example is our first study of human wisdom teeth (our third molars). There is variation in the amount of teeth people have, and whether they are removed over their lifetimes. Some people have never had them, some people get them and they are fine, and some people get them and they are decidedly not fine - they have to get them removed. Is something happening in terms of evolution? Are mouths changing somehow and if so why? Scientists need to process and analyze data to develop interpretations about the world. Physical anthropologists studying this are interested in the interplay of behavior and biology. Is there something we are doing that is changing biology? Does the data show this? What you need to do You need to collect data as a class. Then you should analyze all the data in any way you want to. How should you sort it? What can it tell you? Did we collect the right kind of data? There are so many different and confusing things to think about - but that is OK. The point here is to critically assess these data -- our own class data!!! That is important, because we are specific kind of dataset as well. The idea behind this study is find out whether the variation in our mouths means something. Are we seeing changes in our biology that may relate to changing behaviors? Or is it the other way around? The idea here is to begin thinking about how to do science on a small scale and then analyze the data we gathered on our own and the data that the entire class gathers. Overall two big steps to this assignment First Week Data due at the end of first week of class (input on the database - see below) Second Week Write up due at the end of second week of class, on next SUNDAY at midnight California time. (check due date below) Note- when I made the below video there were 5 small scale science projects, now there are only 4, each worth 25 pts. thanks First thing: Part 1 Due at end of this week What you need to do is ask 5 or more people whether they have their third molar or wisdom tooth in their mouths. They can either 1) have the wisdom teeth and are doing fine; 2) had their wisdom teeth removed (or some of them); and 3) never had wisdom teeth and never will – they aren’t coming in. There are three choices we have for this study, you must now put your results into our online database for the class. Prof Connell will provide a link to a Google Document, which you will need to access via Google Drive. If you can't see it -- be sure to select 'ADD TO MY DRIVE' when you click on the folder -- it then will download and add the folder to your drive -- it works!Links to an external site. Here is another link to the Google Drive just in case you need it Student Folder on Google DriveLinks to an external site. Make sure you use the correct codes WRITE IN CAPS ! Please use the codes in the database provided, for example in one of the columns put a letter in capitals, Y =Yes had ALL of them removed, N = No - none have been removed, they are fine; S = Some, had some removed, but not all; M = Missing, I do not have wisdom teeth, they never grew in (WRITE CODE IN CAPS) So codes are Y, N, S or M. While it is easier to access this with a Google Account, you do not necessarily need a Google Acct to access this database. You can sign up to Google and use your current account and password to access the database, I made it an open database so you can access it from anywhere. Be sure not to erase the rest of the database. All data should be input by the end of the first week (Sunday night). Next, you can answer the following questions and submit the results of your analysis to me on the Etudes site. Some of the best and different results I will post up for the Week 3 discussion. Part 2 Due at end of Week2 next week This is a two page paper double spaced. Make section headers. Using the data we all acquired I want you look at it and figure out patterns in the data. That is what scientists do, they use the data to make their case. Very important**** Make a copy of the Google Database, by selecting MAKE A COPY from the FILE menu. Use this COPY to do all your analysis. Don’t mess with the original. What should be in your paper? This is the two page paper, where you answer these questions in paragraph form. These are not in order. Don't list these one by one -- this is a science paper in which you have an introduction, body, and conclusion. These are things to think about and write about in your science paper. Section 1 - Introduction and Background • What are your first impressions of the data? How many total data points does your class database have? (make sure you say this) • How are you sorting the data? • Is there Variation across the class? If so what is it like? Talk directly about these data - Give specific examples, give percentages, or hard counts of something you are interested in. Do not generalize only -- use actual data. • Do these data suggest that adaptation is taking place via Natural Selection? Look in the book and in my lectures for definitions to these terms! • Are changes taking place in the mouths of humans in more recent generations? If so, can we determine whether the wisdom teeth are coming or going? Check out the number of teeth other primates have and how many molars the fossils of our ancestors have, perhaps that can help you determine this. • If so, why is the selection taking place? Take a guess. Section 2: Employing the Scientific Method In this section your task follows the scientific method that can test your guess from section 1. 1. Formulate a hypothesis about the data. (eg. our jaws are growing, space aliens inserted third molars 2,000 years ago. 2. Test the hypothesis on the data we have (eg. the data does not show who has a larger jaw, the data does not reference space aliens) 3. Do these data support the hypothesis? yes, no, maybe 4. Are these data sufficient? Section 3: Further Study Next I want you to imagine that you are a scientist and want to be able to expand the study. Describe what you would do to further understand the relationship here between biology and behavior. What are your expectations from these new data? What would you change about our current study? Improve? Summary To repeat, the write up Part 2 is due at the end of Week2 on Sunday night at midnight. As I said it should be no more than 2 pages double spaced total. I am open and available for questions anytime. Rubric Small Science Paper Rubric Small Science Paper Rubric Criteria Ratings Pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIntroduction to the problem, background 5 pts Full Marks 0 pts No Marks 5 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAnalysis of class data 15 pts Full Marks Class data is analyzed in some form or another. Numbers are given, statistics, percentages, etc. A hypothesis is tested using these data 12 pts A basic summary Only a basic summary is given, nothing further is ventured or interpreted or explained. 8 pts Partial Analysis Data is talked about in a general manner, no numbers or stats are given. Some ideas are presented for analysis but nothing is looked at or tested. 0 pts No Marks 15 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeConclusions and future directions Here you address what more we could learn in the future. Further expectations and how you would alter the study to improve it. Summarize the whole thing. 5 pts Full Marks 0 pts No Marks 5 pts Total Points: 25 PreviousNext