Science Fair 2017-2018

Experimental Project Proposal

1. Name of principal investigator (you):
Victor Wall

2.​ ​Name(s) and credentials of adult collaborator(s):

Mike Martin, CSU Professor

3.​ ​Contributions of adult collaborator(s):

In one or two sentences, briefly summarize how each collaborator contributed to this project.
Professor Martin provided inspiration for the task.
Provided information of farming methods.
4.​ ​Introductory essay:

Below, write an introductory statement including:

a) (1-2 sentences) What are you testing? (include IV and DV)
b) (1-2 sentences) Relevance: Why does anyone care/how is it relevant to real life?
c) (1-2 sentences) Context: Describe a related experiment from your research.
You can write about each of these items in any order.
Your statement should be well-written (grammar and spelling).
There should be APA-style parenthetical citations for b) and c). ​Click here for formatting guide and
examples​.

I will be testing the potential influences of genetic modification on potato yield. This will be
implemented through an actual crop grown within the confines of the greenhouse, and will be
tested against unmodified potatoes.. Recently, there has been an increase in both interest, demand,
and alleged need for genetic modification, as proven by National Geographic (​Max, [n.d]) ​. I
wished to both test and illustrate, on a smaller scale, the agricultural business currently, and the
changes it has gone through with the introduction of CRISPR, as illustrated by Nature ( ​The Use of
CRISPR,​(n.d.). Crispr has already been used to modify potatoes, and as such my test is both topical
and implementable.
5.​ ​Independent and dependent variables

If you plan to assess more than one of each, add as many rows as needed.
independent Modification of Crops
variable

dependent variable Yield

6.​ ​Baseline control

The baseline control provides a baseline of data that you compare your results to.
Baseline/comparison control (what are you Unmodified Crops.
comparing your results to?)

7.​ ​Hypothesis

This should be a testable statement that indicates the IV, DV, and usually baseline control.
It should be concise and clear.
The modification status of the potato crops wil​l alter the overall yield. A modified plant will yield
more than an unmodified one.
8.​ ​Other variables

What might interfere with your results, and what can you do about it?
You need to do your best to ensure that only the variable you are testing (IV) is responsible for your
results.
a.​ ​One way to do this is to be sure that a variable is the same for all your test groups. These are

called ​standardized variables​.

b.​ ​Another way to ensure something is not interfering with results is to test it. This would be a

control group​.
c.​ ​Sometimes it is not possible or feasible to eliminate the effects of a variable. These are called

extraneous variables​. You need to identify these, and acknowledge their possible impact when
you analyze your data.

In the table below, list variables and factors that you want to ensure do not interfere with your
results. Indicate if it is a standardized variable, control group, or extraneous variable.
Add as many rows as you need.
What is the What will you do Is it a standardized variable, control group, or
problem? about it? extraneous variable?
(the variable)

Water amount Standardize the Standardized variable

 water amount

Possibility of Unable to regulate Extraneous Variable

Disease

9.​ ​Robust results:

To generate meaningful results, you need to test many subjects and/or repeat your test
several times. Indicate below your plans for each, as applicable for your project:
Add as many rows as needed.
Sample size 12
(number of subjects)

Repeated measures
(how many times is the test
repeated?) 3

10.​ ​Subjects:

Who or what will you test? Do you need permission or help to use them?
If your project does not have living test subjects, write “none” below.
Add as many rows as needed.
Test Help or permission from
subjects whom?

Potatoes Ms. Sanders

11.​ ​Ethics:

Please put an x in the appropriate space below and complete the instructions that apply to you:
I am testing people. I have completed the​ ​human subjects [link to your completed form
ethics form​ (paste the link in this table, in column to the here. Be sure it is in your
right) Biology folder]

I am testing non-human vertebrate animals. I have [link to your completed form

completed the​ ​vertebrate animal ethics form​ (paste the link here. Be sure it is in your
in this table, in column to the right) Biology folder]

I am not testing people or other vertebrate animals X

12.​ ​Safety:

If you are handling any potentially hazardous materials or tools, list them below and indicate the
safety precautions you plan to take. Add as many rows as needed.
If you are not using any potentially hazardous materials, write “none” below.
materi Safety
al precautions

None

13.​ ​Materials:

If you will need to acquire materials for your experiment (not for the display board), fill in this
table. Add as many rows as needed.
materia where are you going to get it Approximate
l from? cost

Potato Any number of agricultural

Crops suppliers

Irrigatio 0
n Water

TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF MATERIALS​:

14.​ ​Testing Location(s):

Where will you conduct your experiment? Do you need permission to use the space?
If your project does not need a location, write “none” below.
Add as many rows as needed.
location option for permission from
testing whom?

Greenhouse Ms Sanders
15.​ ​Step-by-step plan

Be clear and detailed on each step of your planned procedure.

If you are using parts of a protocol you found in your research, you need to cite it (APA
parenthetical citation) as well.
1) Obtain a series of modified and unmodified potato plants (consisting of Russet and Atlantic
potatoes), a dozen of each. I will choose my crop based on the label of the manufacturer to
identify modification status.
2) I will set up two containers of potatoes, within a space of 4 feet in length, and divide the
modified and unmodified crop into a respective set, then separate them into rows by species. Each
container will have two rows of potatoes, and each row would be separated by 12 inches for
each plant in the row. Both containers will receive the same set of soil, and the same amount of
water and sunlight.
3) After the first planting and initial watering, return every week on the day and time of the
planting to record results. Take notes on how the plant is developing, emphasizing growth,
health, presence of insects, visible diseases, and (at the end of the experiment) total yield and
weight.
4) After collecting data, compile in a spreadsheet. Test data against hypothesis.

16.​ ​Time Frame:

In the Calendar below, identify probable dates for key procedure steps.
Note green marks Winter break and orange marks Excursion.

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat

8 9
Proposals should be approved

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18: Groundwork: Seeding 19 20 21:C 22 23

Hec
k.

24 25:Check. 26 27 28:C 29 30:

hec
 k.

31 1: Check 2 3 4:Ch 5 6
eck.

7 8:Check. 9 10 11:C 12 13
hec
k.

14 15:Check. 16 17 18:C 19 20
hec
k.

21 22:Check. 23 24 25:C 26 27
hec
k

28 29:Check: 30: 31 1: 2 3
Resu
lts?

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12
Data is due

17.​ ​Data Table:

Part of design is knowing exactly what kind of data you will collect and being prepared with a data
table for documenting it.
In your Biology folder, create a Google sheet and prepare it for your data (label the columns
appropriately to be ready to fill in your observations and measurements). Be sure to consider:
a.​ ​It is a good practice to include dates, times, and locations in your table.

b.​ ​Also bear in mind the number of groups and repeated measures you have.

c.​ ​Generally you should have space for both qualitative and quantitative observations

Put the ​link​ to the google sheet in the box below:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/156iZWw0Ofkw6fa9zK7YvPhKEKnnQK-1Y1k2p0Nx
4ObI/edit#gid=0

References:
Put annotated APA citations below for any works referenced in this proposal.
Annotated means you include 1) the type of source, 2) how you found it, and 3) a meaningful
sentence or two for each element of the CRAAP test. This annotation is the same as what you did for
the​ ​citations/annotations assignment​.
 References

[Special issue; PDf]. (n.d.). ​Crispr Cas manual​. Retrieved from

https://www.cshlpress.com/pdf/sample/2016/crispr-cas/CRISPR-CasProtocol.pdf

Associaed Press. (n.d.). USDA Approves Genetically Engineered Potatoes. Retrieved from

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/gm-potatoes-get-usda-ok-n675856

Georgia Organics. (n.d.). Growing organic potatoes. Retrieved from

https://georgiaorganics.org/for-farmers/growing-organic-potatoes/

MAx, D. T. (April 2017.). How humans are shaping our own evolution. ​National Geographic​.

Retrieved from

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/04/evolution-genetics-medicine-brain-tech

nology-cyborg/

Shah, A. N., Davey, C. F., Miller, A. C., & Moens, C. B. (n.d.). Rapid reverse genetic screening

using CRISPR in zebrafish. ​Nature.​ Retrieved from

http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/v12/n6/full/nmeth.3360.html

The Use of CRISPR/cas9, ZFNs, TALENs in Generating Site Specific Genome Alterations​.

(n.d.).

Waltz, E. (2015). USDA approves next-generation GM potato. ​Nature Biotechnology​. Retrieved

from http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v33/n1/full/nbt0115-12.html

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions on genetically modified foods.

Retrieved October 30, 2017, from

http://www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/food-technology/faq-genetically-modified-food/en/

Zhang, F. (n.d.). [Personal interview by the author].