BIOLOGY PROJECTS
As you are doing research for your paper, you will want to address the ideas listed below for your particular
project. This may not be the only things that you need to research and include in your paper. Your research and
your paper should reflect what you have learned and what is needed to do a great job with your experiment.
Hydroponics
Decide what you will manipulate, iron or calcium, as you study/compare the growth of seeds in soil and in
nutrient solution.
Describe the basics of hydroponics. What are the advantages over growing seed in soil? What is in
nutrient solution?
Explain the environmental factors that affect germination of seeds and plant growth
Discuss seed germination with the specific vocabulary used for plant parts as they emerge from the
embryo
Explain how iron and calcium affect plant growth
Analyzing Yeast Population Growth
Describe the characteristics of yeast. How is it classified? How does it reproduce? Where is it found?
What is its role in the natural world?
Explain 2 types of growth; logistic and exponential; discuss an example of each
How can yeast be cultured (grown) in a laboratory? What nutrients are required for yeast growth?
Why are they needed?
Discuss the particular variable you selected for your study. Refer to the options describe with the kit
instructions (find link).
Bacterial Investigative BioKit
You have chosen to study either E. coli OR B. cereus
Discuss the diversity of bacteria, reproduction, conditions for growth and growth rate
Specifically describe the characteristics of the bacteria you have chosen to study.
Determine the difference between bacteria and fungi. How do the look different? You may need to
distinguish between them during your experiment as fungi is often a contaminant in bacteria cultures.
Explain agar, the different types and their role in growing bacteria in a lab
Disinfectant Sensitivity BioKit
Before doing paper- Determine which disinfectants you will test. You must decide on 2 things that ARE NOT
included in the kit (things that can be easily purchased and brought to school for testing) and also 2
disinfectants included in the kit (chose between Lysol, iodine, bleach, mouthwash). You can choose to compare
different brands/types of mouthwash.
You will need to purchase the products for testing at a local store.
You must determine your products before doing paper because you will need to know what is in the product;
that is the “active ingredient” for disinfecting.
Discuss the diversity of bacteria, reproduction, conditions for growth and growth rate
Describe gram staining and the difference between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria
Explain how (in general) disinfectants work and why they are used
Information about the ingredients in disinfectants that be tested by your experiment
Brine Shrimp- Effects of ___________ on development OR Effects of ____________ on survival.
This can be a toxicology study. You will need to choose the toxin and determine the strength or amount (s) to
be tested. Have your teacher approve the toxin before you get too involved in this!
OR, this can be an environment factor that you want to test. Again, have the teacher approve it!
State the classification of brine shrimp.
Describe the characteristics of brine shrimp; including reproduction, growth rate, life cycle
Where are brine shrimp found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do brine shrimp eat/require for survival?
Discuss the requirements needed to cultivate brine shrimp in a lab
Discuss what you selected for your testing. It should be something that is an environmental pollutant
or an environmental factor that can be manipulated.
Pill Bugs
What will you test? Have a teacher approve your idea.
State the classification of pill bugs & describe the diversity within this group.(including scientific name)
Describe the characteristics of pill bugs; including reproduction and growth rate
Where are pill bugs found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do pill bugs eat/require for survival?
Discuss the requirements needed to cultivate pill bugs in a lab
Information specific to what you will be testing
Lumbriculus variegates (Black worms)
Studies of locomotion, regeneration, behavior, environment affects (acid rain, chemical toxicity)
Have teacher approve your idea.
You will need to bring in a gallon of spring water for use in your project. If you are testing acid rain or chemical
toxicity, you will also need to purchase whatever is needed at a local store.
State the classification of Lumbriculus variegates.
Describe the characteristics of Lumbriculus variegates; including reproduction and growth rate
Where are Lumbriculus variegates found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do Lumbriculus variegates eat/require for survival?
Discuss the requirements needed to cultivate Lumbriculus variegates in a lab.
Information on the particular characteristic you will be testing (choose only ONE)Locomotion
Regeneration
Behavior
Environmental Affects (acid rain- define acid rain, its cause and general affects (how will you
make acid rain?)
Chemical toxicity- what chemical will you choose and why? It must be one
that could be found in an environment that is polluted
Bess Beetles
What will you test? Have a teacher approve your idea.
State the classification of Bess Beetles & describe the diversity within this group(including scientific
name).
Describe the characteristics of Bess Beetles; including reproduction and growth rate
Where are they found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do they eat/require for survival?
Discuss the requirements needed to cultivate Bess Beetles in a lab
Information specific to what you will be testing.
Micro-organisms (Euglena or Paramecium)
What will you test? How will you measure? Have a teacher approve your idea.
State the classification of your organism and discuss its general structure.
How does it reproduction? How quickly?
Where are they found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do they eat/require for survival?
Discuss the requirements needed to cultivate the organism.
Information specific to what you will be testing.
Wisconsin Fast Plants
What will you test? Choose an environmental factor to see how it affects either germination and/or growth.
We have a light structure that will allow your plants to be in light 24/7.
Have a teacher approve your idea.
Discuss Wisconsin Fast Plants. What type of plant is it? Scientific name?
How long does it take to go from seed to fruit?
What factors are required for a seed to germinate? Grow? (These ARE different)
Explain the factor that you have chosen and why it may make a difference for the germination or
growth of your plants.