Data collection and interpretation The results from the various experiments highlighted can be tabulated or graphed in various ways depending on the variables one wishes to investigate. Data which can be plotted over time, such as time for the adults to cross the 10 and 20 cm line, can be graphed with free web based graphing software which allows students to “Joinpoint” work at home or at school. Also, graphing the values for the different experimental lines of flies allows for discussion of the data in relation to the biological significance. These excercises provide an inquiry based experience relating to real life topics and can be related to investigations of practical neurobiological phenomenon in relation to human disorders (Parkinson’s, Stiff man syndrome, epilepsy, and autism) along with medical interventions with pharmacological agents on these various neurotransmitter systems. Conducting a literature search on the transmitter systems and how sensory-motor neural circuits function can help to make predictions of the behavioral outcomes when stimulating the particular subsets of neurotransmitter systems for the larva and adults before conducting the experiments on the animals. This establishing a conceptual model of the neurotransmitter and the neural circuits related to the mammalian behavior and then testing if the model hold for the Drosophila is an important concept of the NGSS in the use of models and redesigning to observations (Krajcik & Merritt, 2012; NGSS Lead States, 2013). The following are examples of data collected for various experiments related to these protocols in a research lab environment with controlling as many variables as possible which can be difficult in a teaching laboratory. Ideas in how one may graph the data can also be obtained by examining these graphs for the carious experimental paradigms. Figure 6: Activation of ChR2 channels in motor neurons produces different responses in various instar larvae (The larvae were fed ATR 1 mM). The body wall contractions for one minute (BWCs/min) were counted while the larva was exposed to regular light, low intensity blue light or high intensity blue light. The data shows that the first instar larvae do not respond well to even high intensity blue light.
Data collection and interpretation The results from the various experiments highlighted can be tabulated or graphed in various ways depending on the variables one wishes to investigate. Data which can be plotted over time, such as time for the adults to cross the 10 and 20 cm line, can be graphed with free web based graphing software “Joinpoint” which allows students to work at home or at school. Also, graphing the values for the different experimental lines of flies allows for discussion of the data in relation to the biological significance. These excercises provide an inquiry based experience relating to real life topics and can be related to investigations of practical neurobiological phenomenon in relation to human disorders (Parkinson’s, Stiff man syndrome, epilepsy, and autism) along with medical interventions with pharmacological agents on these various neurotransmitter systems. Conducting a literature search on the transmitter systems and how sensory-motor neural circuits function can help to make predictions of the behavioral outcomes when stimulating the particular subsets of neurotransmitter systems for the larva and adults before conducting the experiments on the animals. This establishing a conceptual model of the neurotransmitter and the neural circuits related to the mammalian behavior and then testing if the model hold for the Drosophila is an important concept of the NGSS in the use of models and redesigning to observations (Krajcik & Merritt, 2012; NGSS Lead States, 2013). The following are examples of data collected for various experiments related to these protocols in a research lab environment with controlling as many variables as possible which can be difficult in a teaching laboratory. Ideas in how one may graph the data can also be obtained by examining these graphs for the carious experimental paradigms. Figure 6: Activation of ChR2 channels in motor neurons produces different responses in various instar larvae (The larvae were fed ATR 1 mM). The body wall contractions for one minute (BWCs/min) were counted while the larva was exposed to regular light, low intensity blue light or high intensity blue light. The data shows that the first instar larvae do not respond well to even high intensity blue light.
Opto-Teaching%20protocol-08-25-2015-%20corrected.docx