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I would like to know why the magnetic field has an impact on the planarians regeneration rate. The planarians with magnets seem to grow much faster than the ones without magnets. Can you please tell me why?
~~AMARA~~
thanx.
Magnetic Fields and planarians
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carolinethorn
- Former Expert
- Posts: 393
- Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 2:40 pm
Hi Amara,
I am a scientist that works on human biology and don't know so much about worms so I don't know if there is a definitive answer to this. So lets use our scientific method to see if we can suggest some reasons why you observe that the planarians with the magnets regenerate faster than the one without.
Fisrt of all, are you sure they are really growing faster? It could be by chance that all the fast growing ones were in the magnet dish so its good to do the experiment a few times to make sure the results are the same. Its also important to look at how variable the measurements are within the group that have the magnets compared to the ones without - this is done by looking at the standard deviation from the mean (a statistical test). An easier way to tell this is to plot all of the growth curves on the same graph and see if you can draw a line to clearly separate the magnet grown from the non-magnet ones - if you can't then maybe they aren't that different. Its important to evaulate how confident you are in your results before you try to figure out why you saw them.
Now, lets say you find they really are different. What have you learned from your background research about how regeneration happens? In many organisms cells send signals to each other using calcium ions that have a positive charge. What do you know from you background research about how magnets effect molecules with charges? Can you make a hypothesis about how the magnets may effect molecules in the regenerating planarian?
Post back with some of your ideas and we will help you develop your discussion. Also let us know what grade you are in and if i have used terms that you don't understand and that need explaining.
best of luck,
-Caroline
I am a scientist that works on human biology and don't know so much about worms so I don't know if there is a definitive answer to this. So lets use our scientific method to see if we can suggest some reasons why you observe that the planarians with the magnets regenerate faster than the one without.
Fisrt of all, are you sure they are really growing faster? It could be by chance that all the fast growing ones were in the magnet dish so its good to do the experiment a few times to make sure the results are the same. Its also important to look at how variable the measurements are within the group that have the magnets compared to the ones without - this is done by looking at the standard deviation from the mean (a statistical test). An easier way to tell this is to plot all of the growth curves on the same graph and see if you can draw a line to clearly separate the magnet grown from the non-magnet ones - if you can't then maybe they aren't that different. Its important to evaulate how confident you are in your results before you try to figure out why you saw them.
Now, lets say you find they really are different. What have you learned from your background research about how regeneration happens? In many organisms cells send signals to each other using calcium ions that have a positive charge. What do you know from you background research about how magnets effect molecules with charges? Can you make a hypothesis about how the magnets may effect molecules in the regenerating planarian?
Post back with some of your ideas and we will help you develop your discussion. Also let us know what grade you are in and if i have used terms that you don't understand and that need explaining.
best of luck,
-Caroline
-
amara
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 10:40 am
Magnetic Fields and planarians
Hi my name is Amara and I am in the nith grade. I posted earlier about wanting to know about why the magnetic field has an impact on the planarians regeneration rate. The planarians with magnets seem to grow much faster than the ones without magnets. I got a reply but I need help in understanding the concepts of:
1) How magnets effect molecules with charges?
2) How the magnets may effect molecules in the regenerating planarian?
I would really appreciate it if you can help me and thank you for all of your help.
~~AMARA~~
1) How magnets effect molecules with charges?
2) How the magnets may effect molecules in the regenerating planarian?
I would really appreciate it if you can help me and thank you for all of your help.
~~AMARA~~