Fruit Flies Research Questions and Hypotheses

Description

As you know, this lab course culminates in students conducting a scientific experiment involving fruit flies. How will you do this? The first step is developing a research question (i.e., figuring out what it is you want to study). To help you get started on this process, we would like you to read the following:

A short “Introduction to Drosophila” handout that covers some of the basic biology of fruit flies, especially Drosophila melanogaster, which you will be working with in this class. This document is posted on Blackboard.
Select an article from the attached list of news stories about research in Drosophila (“31 Popular Articles on Fruit Flies”). You will read the article that corresponds to the day of the month of your birth. If you were born on May 3rd, you would read the third article. If you were born on February 24th, you would read the 24th article, and so forth. (Be sure to write the day of the month of your birth in your journal, along with the title of the article/news story.)

Using the information you read in these articles, list at least three research ideas or questions to investigate. BE SPECIFIC in your idea and make sure that it isn’t something that is already common knowledge. For example, do not write “What do fruit flies eat?” We already know what fruit flies eat in general (see the “Introduction to Drosophila”). Rather, if some aspect of diet is interesting to you, think about what you could study that might not already be known. Also, think about HOW you would study it. For example, using that question, you could investigate if fruit flies prefer fermenting fruits or vegetables. Or do male and female fruit flies have a different food preference? There are many possibilities.

You are to list THREE DIFFERENT IDEAS. Do not list three questions that are all variations of “What do fruit flies eat?” Be creative and think about how you can create an experiment to answer each question.

Next, write a hypothesis statement for each research question. Remember, a good hypothesis must be both testable and falsifiable (see Lab 1 handout). There are a few examples of hypothesis statements in the Lab 1 handout. In addition, here is a website that also has some good examples of different ways to write hypothesis statements: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-hypothesis/

Finally, write a statement on how you think you could set up an experiment to test each hypothesis. Make sure to identify the independent and dependent variable in each hypothesis.

Grid View

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Main Postinga	45 (45%) – 50 (50%) Answers all parts of the discussion question(s) expectations with reflective critical analysis and synthesis of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. Supported by at least three current, credible sources. Written clearly and concisely with no grammatical or spelling errors and fully adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style.	40 (40%) – 44 (44%) Responds to the discussion question(s) and is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. At least 75% of post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three credible sources. Written clearly and concisely with one or no grammatical or spelling errors and fully adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style.	35 (35%) – 39 (39%) Responds to some of the discussion question(s). One or two criteria are not addressed or are superficially addressed. Is somewhat lacking reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Somewhat represents knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Post is cited with two credible sources. Written somewhat concisely; may contain more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Contains some APA formatting errors.	0 (0%) – 34 (34%) Does not respond to the discussion question(s) adequately. Lacks depth or superficially addresses criteria. Lacks reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Does not represent knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Contains only one or no credible sources. Not written clearly or concisely. Contains more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Does not adhere to current APA manual writing rules and style.
Main Post: Timeliness	10 (10%) – 10 (10%) Posts main post by day 3.	0 (0%) – 0 (0%)	0 (0%) – 0 (0%)	0 (0%) – 0 (0%) Does not post by day 3.
First Response	17 (17%) – 18 (18%) Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings. Responds fully to questions posed by faculty. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources. Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.	15 (15%) – 16 (16%) Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.	13 (13%) – 14 (14%) Response is on topic and may have some depth. Responses posted in the discussion may lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Response may lack clear, concise opinions and ideas, and a few or no credible sources are cited.	0 (0%) – 12 (12%) Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. Responses posted in the discussion lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited.
Second Response	16 (16%) – 17 (17%) Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings. Responds fully to questions posed by faculty. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources. Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.	14 (14%) – 15 (15%) Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.	12 (12%) – 13 (13%) Response is on topic and may have some depth. Responses posted in the discussion may lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Response may lack clear, concise opinions and ideas, and a few or no credible sources are cited.	0 (0%) – 11 (11%) Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. Responses posted in the discussion lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited.
Participation	5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Meets requirements for participation by posting on three different days.	0 (0%) – 0 (0%)	0 (0%) – 0 (0%)	0 (0%) – 0 (0%) Does not meet requirements for participation by posting on 3 different days.
Total Points: 100