Lab Metabolism Experiment

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After the lab procedures were finalized, the data were comprised into Life Sciences 23 Lab Metabolism Laboratory Data. The data are collected from a sample size of 6 trials consisting of 2 goldfish tested per trial. Each trial is divided into two parts, first tested the control group, that has no variable (n=6); then tested the same pair of fish under the influence of nicotine(n=6). The masses of the goldfish were considered since the mass affects the metabolism of each individual goldfish. After this was applied, the results of the control group’s mean were around 296 delta [O2}/ hour*kg; with the experimental control’s mean results come out to be 239 delta[O2}/ hour*kg. The outcome of the standard deviation comes out to be 201 delta [O2}/…show more content…
The p-value was 0.628, which is much greater than the statistically acceptable 0.05. The results display that there is no significant difference between the control group and the group that in took nicotine. The oxygen consumption of the fishes during both trials, remained fairly constant. With the average mean of the experimental, being slightly lower than the control. The standard deviation tells us that there was somewhat of a deviation off from the mean points since there was a sizable magnitude of discrepancy. This may be the case due to the narrow sample size, or any mechanical issues that maybe have led to varied outcomes. The original sample size was supposed to be eight, however, because of the inconstancies with results that contained the positive slopes, 2 trials were voided to keep values accurate. The positive slopes are not reasonable, since the goldfish is in a closed environment, with no transfer of oxygen during the recorded results. The oxygen consumption of the goldfish should decrease, therefore giving a negative slope. Consequently, these results give space for error in the experimental setup. The oxygen chamber sensor might have been malfunctioning or oxygen chamber used during the experiment, had a loose rubber sealing which might have given inaccurate…show more content…
Particularly studies that encompass the metabolism changes of humans under the influence of nicotine. A research journal found in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, displays a study done on cigarette smokers who intake a substantial amount of nicotine. The researchers administered two nicotine doses to 18 male smokers via nasal spray and also gave a separate group a placebo nasal spray. These groups were measured for their resting metabolism rate (RMR). To their surprise there was an acute increase in RMR, particularly by 6 percent, but their placebo group had a rise by 3 percent as well. This study concluded, questioning whether there really was a substantial amount of difference or is it the placebo effect and non-pharmacological behavioral aspect of smoking could have led to the acute increase in metabolism. (Perkins, 1989) This ambiguity in results resonated with the current results presented in our section. By looking at a much simpler system, there could be connections that answer the question of where it could have been the placebo effect. The goldfish would not react to a placebo effect unlike a human would. By acquiring more solidified results, might aid the argument that the non-pharmacological behavior did lead to the increase of RMR in humans instead of nicotine itself. This

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