fandomhigh | Biology, 11/07, Period 3

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Biology, 11/07, Period 3

Elliot looked like she was rather glad she wouldn't have to do a lot of talking this class period.

"Midterm projects," she said simply. "I hope you all enjoyed your breaks more than I did mine, and spent tons and tons of time on this so I won't have to give you a bad grade."

She gestured to a bin on her desk. "Your choices are to either just turn in the paper about your experiment's design or, for extra credit, spend this class period working on doing the experiment. (I know some of them won't fit into the hour, but you can assemble supplies or whatever.) Remember, if you want these are for the science fair in December."

"Next week, we're studying the biosphere."

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...

M. Parker

Willow Rosenberg

Teddy Altman

Isabel Evans

Aeryn Sun

Peter Parker

Elizabeth Weir

Papers go here.

Hypothesis: Testing the effects of microwave radiation and exposure to magic on orchids grown in soil, air, and rock surfaces. It is believed that the widest variation and range of adaptation will occur in orchids grown in air, and exposed to both radiation and magic.

Method: Fifteen Cymbidium White Magic (http://www.orchids.mu/Species/Cymbidium/index.html) orchids will be transplanted to rock, soil, and air mediums, with a control kept separate and unexposed to either magical sources or microwave radiation. The seeds of the rest will be exposed to varying levels of microwave radiation before planting, with some of those also exposed to either direct spells (to change color, shape, or scent) or simply in the vicinity of magic done by various magicians of the student population. Adaptations and changes from the original stock will be noted and compared to the control.

[Parker included a feeding, watering, and planting schedule, as well as notes on the kinds of magic and lengths of radiation exposure she planned on exposing the orchids to. The plants were to either be grown in her suite, or on the roof, depending on whether or not she obtained permission from the school.]

Hypothesis: Alcohol will negatively affect a fruit fly's ability to choose suitable mates to pass its genes on.

Method: Fruit flies will be placed into separate groups. One group will be left to breed as normal. Another will be exposed to water. The other groups will be exposed to alcohol solutions of various percentages. All groups will be observed to determine their mating patterns and ability to breed.

[Included with this is a very long proposal with graphs, charts, and various studies to support Willow's case. It's a thick one. Not dirty.]

Hypothesis: (http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2003/Projects/S1606.pdf) To determine the effect of light exposure during the dark light period given to a short night plant on the flowering patterns of the plant. Another purpose is to determine which color light best emulated the effect of the sun on the plant.

Method: 14 petunia plants will be divided them into experimental and control groups. There will be two control
groups that consist of two plants each. One control group will receive a dark period of 11 hours, less than
the critical night length, and the other control group will receive a dark period of 14 hours. The
experimental groups, also consisting of two plants each, will be exposed to red, yellow, blue, black or white light. The
experimental plants will be exposed to light during the first four hours of their night period, which will be controlled by putting the plants in plastic boxes at certain times.

Or just make a mess with chemicals, whatever.

Willow worked on preparing her various alcohol solutions, as well as her fruit fly homes.

Parker was microwaving her seeds at different levels of power and time. Poor little orchids-to-be.

"What are those little things supposed to be?" Parker asked, frowning at the fruit fly homes.

"Fruit fly homes!" Willow said, proudly. She used felt and pieces of cotton balls to make tiny pillows, which she then put inside the homes. "I believe that just because they are part of an experiment there's no reason for them to feel uncomfortable."

Parker shook her head. "And I thought I was taking my experiment seriously. Are you going to figure out how to leave little mints on the little pillows too? Or would they be happier with banana slices?"

"I'm not sure," Willow admitted. "I'm studying the effect of alcohol on their mating habits. So on the one hand maybe I should put strawberries and chocolate in there to get them in the mood. But on the other hand would that mean I'm introducing too many variables to the system? It's a conundrum."

Parker couldn't help but grin. "And what if you piped Barry White or Sade in there? Would they not even notice, or would you have extras to account for there, too? Always a puzzle." The microwave dinged, and Parker retrieved her seeds. "Which reminds me. Want to help with my experiment? Magic-wise?"

"Sure!" Willow said. "What do you need? Have spell, will help with science project."

"I'm irradiating some of my orchid seeds, but not others; I want to see what effects spells to make them change shape or size or scent would have, on the microwaved versus unmicrowaved ones," Parker explained. "Orchid growers use microwaves to see if they can introduce new mutations, new scents or shapes; I was going to take that a step farther. Want to get creative, and come up with something to make them adapt faster, or become stronger or prettier ~~or whatever your cracky little heart desires to mess up~~?"

"Sure!" Willow said. "I totally know spells I could modify for that. Oh! And it could help me with practicing my transmogrifying. Like I could put the spell on the seed and see if it could be time-delayed to plant growth."

"Perfect. And if you could do a few spells just *around* them, but not on them? That would be great too. I wanted to see if just being in the vicinity of magic would have an effect." Parker grinned. "You'll completely get credit, of course."

"Makes sense," Willow said. She wrote down some notes. "How do you feel about flowers that sing?"

Parker blinked. "As long as it's not country and western..."

"I was thinking more like something cheerful," Willow said. "Like if the flowers were in a good mood they could sing a happy tune."

Parker stared at Willow, then broke into a smile. "Sure, why not? We'll see if that helps them thrive, or not. And if they sing the blues, I can always stick them in the sunshine. It can't be *that* hard to keep a plant happy."

"Yay!" Willow bounced. "When would you like me to come by?"

"Thursday-- or maybe Sunday? Tomorrow I have classes and band stuff to get through. Either one of those work for you?"

"Sunday works," Willow said. "Your room?"

"Sure. I'll be keeping the plants either there or on the roof. I'll make sure the ones I want enchanted are in place." Parker grinned. "Thanks for the help. And, uh. I hope the little Fly Hotel of Love works the way you want."

"Thanks," Willow said. "I was debating putting little disco balls in but that might create intimidation."

"Yeah, any first-timers might leave." Parker's poker face was definitely showing some cracks around the edges.

"That'd mess up my control group for sure," Willow said. "I'll stick with the little beds and lounge areas."

"More low-key. Less pressure. Greater relaxation." She's not gonna giggle. She's not. "Better chance of hooking up with someone compatible."

"Until they get drunk off their little fruit fly behinds and start making horrible dating choices that they'll regret for the rest of their tiny lives," Willow said.

Which is the point at which Parker ~~and her mun~~ puts her head down on the desk and laughs. A lot.

"I find science to be fun and practical."

Parker managed to get her breathing under control, and sat up, giggling just a tiny bit. "And I find you to be the essences of scientific by that definition. Cool."

Willow smiled, touched. "Thanks, Parker. That's sweet of you to say."

Chat, talk to Elliot, etc.

She's actually in a mood where she'll give detention this week. Tag here if you want it.

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Biology, 11/07, Period 3

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Other Class Stuff, Bio, 11/07

OOC, Bio, 11/07