Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I changed my science fair because my teacher basically said it wasn't that good, and is giving me a second chance but I still don't have that much time. So I want to do something quick and simple, and I found "The tree of life- (basic)" on Science Buddies, and it'd be a lot of help if someone would tell me the control, independent and dependent variable of this project. I think I know them, but I'm still not sure.
Would the control be the human DNA? Independent the different animals? and I really don't know the dependent...

Thanks (:

Hi bounlom,

This is a quick and interesting project about the relationships among primate species (https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p004.shtml). You are really doing a research-based project rather than a manipulative experiment, so the variables are a bit harder to identify. Remember that in any investigation, the independent variable is the one you change or manipulate, and the dependent variable is usually the one you measure. In this case, you correctly identified the independent variable as the species. The dependent variable is what you measure - the number of differences in the gene sequence. You don't have a control per se, but one control is the gene. You will want to compare the same gene among the species, so that will be the control.

I hope that helps. Please post again (in this same thread) if you have more questions.

Heather

Hi, I also have a question about this project. Is there anyway I can transform this project into trials? Please answer quick! I only have until 12/4/12