TATER TOTS… OR NOT ? Linda Knewstub 2006

This ppt can be used to help teachers introduce the Tater tots (tissue culture) lab It can also be used to help guide follow up discussion.

Curriculum topics 1.Living vs Non Living 2.Traits of Living Things (Life Functions) 3.Requirements of Photo. & Resp. (Cell energy) 4.Scientific Method & Experimental Design 5.Cell division: mitosis, asexual reprod, vegetative propagation, stem cells

Living ? YES NO

Living or Non Living? Must Show All Traits of Living things

Hypothesis Growth Development Obtain & Use energy Maintain Homeostasis Reproduce Respond to environment Measure increased length Grow new parts, leaves, potatoes, etc Use up food Stay alive IF…………………..THEN……..

PROCEDURE 1.Wash hands,etc. 2.Spray down desk with alcohol 3.Sterilize tools then set to dry 4.Set up work station 5.Cut node from top, middle, bottom 6.Place on petri plate and record position (Cover at 45 0 angle) or culture tube 7.Seal w/ micropore tape and label

PROCEDURE 2. Spray down work area

PROCEDURE 2. Spray down work area

PROCEDURE 4. Set up work area

PROCEDURE 5. Sterilize tools then blot them dry

PROCEDURE 6.Cut node from top, middle, bottom

PROCEDURE 7. Place on petri plate and record position (Cover at 45 0 angle)

PROCEDURE Or 7. Place in culture tube and record position

Put half in cold/dark half in light /warm

Make observations What type of quantitative data might you collect?

Make observations What type of qualitative data might you collect?

Follow up Discussion

SUMMARY Write a statement about each of the following: # of Tubers amount of Stem/leaf growth Amount of contamination Position on the plant

Curriculum Topics 1.Living vs Non Living 2.Traits of Living Things (Life Functions) 3.Scientific Method & Experimental Design 4.Requirements of Photo. & Resp. (Cell energy) 5.Cell division: mitosis, asexual reprod, vegetative propagation, stem cells

What did we get out of this ? Realize that what looks dead may not be dead (Curriculum topic1) Cells (not just organisms) are the basic unit of function (growth, development, reproduction, metabolism, response) ( topics 1,2&3)

What did we get out of this ? Tissue culture and Sterile technique ( topic 3) Analyze real data and ( topic 3) Suggest further experiments that isolate and test for single variables ( topic 3)

That light is a requirement for photosynthesis and chlorophyll production (topic 4) That tubers are a form of asexual reproduction and vegetative propagation (topic 5) Recognize that undifferentiated cells can differentiate into specialized plant parts Realize that environment can influence the expression of traits What did we get out of this ?