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What are the devices that emit UV rays, X rays, radio frequency rays, and radio therapy rays called (I need to expose cell cultures to different types of radiation and I do not know what the device that emits the radiation is called; not like "an X ray machine", more like the scientific instrument, ex. a graduated cylinder is used to measure liquids, rather than "a measuring cup")?
Also, do you know of any places that have or have access to these devices?
Experimenting with Radiation
Moderators: AmyCowen, kgudger, MadelineB, Moderators
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Akila
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:43 pm
- Occupation: Student: 10th grade.
- Project Question: The Effect of Type and Amount of Radiation on Human Skin Cells
- Project Due Date: December 15, 2014
- Project Status: I am conducting my research
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SciB
- Expert
- Posts: 2071
- Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:00 am
- Occupation: Retired molecular biologist, university researcher and teacher
- Project Question: I wish to join Scibuddies to be able to help students achieve the best science project possible and to understand the science behind it.
- Project Due Date: n/a
- Project Status: Not applicable
Re: Experimenting with Radiation
Hi Akila and welcome to Scibuddies.
You are proposing a rather ambitious project. Will you have access to a professional research lab with cell culture facilities? Experiments with human skin cells would have to be done under BioSafety Level 2 conditions which require a special hood and procedures not found in most school labs. Also, radiation sources such as X-ray and gamma sources are only licensed to certain researchers. UV radiation would be easier to utilize.
What is the question that you want to ask? It is already known that radiation can damage cells either directly or through DNA mutations. What would you measure as the effect of the radiation?
Scibuddies has one project to test a group of sunscreen products for effectiveness in blocking UVB: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p015.shtml You might be able to adapt this for cultured skin cells but how to apply the sun screen would be a problem.
Here's another project that tests the effect of UV on yeast DNA damage and repair. The project centers around a kit that is available. Yeasts can be used under BSL1 conditions so are not nearly as restricted as human cells: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p036.shtml
Check out these projects and get back to us when you have a more definite plan with a hypothesis and proposed experiments. We will be glad to help you with designing a workable project to answer a specific question.
Good luck!
Sybee
You are proposing a rather ambitious project. Will you have access to a professional research lab with cell culture facilities? Experiments with human skin cells would have to be done under BioSafety Level 2 conditions which require a special hood and procedures not found in most school labs. Also, radiation sources such as X-ray and gamma sources are only licensed to certain researchers. UV radiation would be easier to utilize.
What is the question that you want to ask? It is already known that radiation can damage cells either directly or through DNA mutations. What would you measure as the effect of the radiation?
Scibuddies has one project to test a group of sunscreen products for effectiveness in blocking UVB: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p015.shtml You might be able to adapt this for cultured skin cells but how to apply the sun screen would be a problem.
Here's another project that tests the effect of UV on yeast DNA damage and repair. The project centers around a kit that is available. Yeasts can be used under BSL1 conditions so are not nearly as restricted as human cells: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p036.shtml
Check out these projects and get back to us when you have a more definite plan with a hypothesis and proposed experiments. We will be glad to help you with designing a workable project to answer a specific question.
Good luck!
Sybee
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danielkim123
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:01 pm
- Occupation: Student: 10th grade
- Project Question: I am almost finished with a project in microbiology regarding genetic mutation of bacteria under different stimuli (temperature, chemical, pH, etc.) However, I need help refining my research.
- Project Due Date: 10/31/15
- Project Status: I am conducting my experiment
Re: Experimenting with Radiation
I conducted an experiment with human cells and x-rays using a dental hand held x-ray machines. However, I couldn't get any definitive data on the change in DNA. However, it would be cool if you could come up with a way to document the exposure of radiation to Bacteria without having an atomic bomb...
Goodluck!
Goodluck!
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Akila
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:43 pm
- Occupation: Student: 10th grade.
- Project Question: The Effect of Type and Amount of Radiation on Human Skin Cells
- Project Due Date: December 15, 2014
- Project Status: I am conducting my research
Re: Experimenting with Radiation
Thank you for your suggestions but I really like my idea and my teacher said it would be ok to do if I can find a lab (which, if you could help me with that, that would be great), and if I get the details worked out.
As for your questions, the question I want to answer with my project is Can radiation cause skin cells to become cancerous? And I would measure the effect of the radiation by calculating the rate of cell growth.
Sorry for not putting those details in my original question.
As for your questions, the question I want to answer with my project is Can radiation cause skin cells to become cancerous? And I would measure the effect of the radiation by calculating the rate of cell growth.
Sorry for not putting those details in my original question.
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SciB
- Expert
- Posts: 2071
- Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:00 am
- Occupation: Retired molecular biologist, university researcher and teacher
- Project Question: I wish to join Scibuddies to be able to help students achieve the best science project possible and to understand the science behind it.
- Project Due Date: n/a
- Project Status: Not applicable
Re: Experimenting with Radiation
Hi Akila,
Yes, radiation of certain kinds can cause skin cells to become cancers. That has been known for a long time. What you need to do in order to get to work in a research lab is to think of a way to PREVENT radiation from causing cancer. Also, I would choose only one type of radiation to work with. UV is the most common cause of skin cancer so that would be the one to test.
You are free to choose whatever project that pleases you. Hopefully some of the other experts can jump in and make some suggestions.
Good luck!
Sybee
Yes, radiation of certain kinds can cause skin cells to become cancers. That has been known for a long time. What you need to do in order to get to work in a research lab is to think of a way to PREVENT radiation from causing cancer. Also, I would choose only one type of radiation to work with. UV is the most common cause of skin cancer so that would be the one to test.
You are free to choose whatever project that pleases you. Hopefully some of the other experts can jump in and make some suggestions.
Good luck!
Sybee