8/7/2016

Scientic Method in Action

Name:_____________________________________________

ScientificMethodInAction
TheStrangeCaseofBeriBeri
In1887astrangenervediseaseattackedthepeopleintheDutchEastIndies.The
diseasewasberiberi.Symptomsofthediseaseincludedweaknessandlossof
appetite,victimsoftendiedofheartfailure.Scientiststhoughtthediseasemightbe
causedbybacteria.Theyinjectedchickenswithbacteriafromthebloodofpatients
withberiberi.Theinjectedchickensbecamesick.However,sodidagroupof
chickensthatwerenotinjectedwithbacteria.
Oneofthescientists,Dr.Eijkman,noticedsomething.Beforetheexperiment,all
thechickenshadeatenwholegrainrice,butduringtheexperiment,thechickens
werefedpolishedrice.Dr.Eijkmanresearchedthisinterestingcaseandfoundthat
polishedricelackedthiamine,avitaminnecessaryforgoodhealth.
1.StatetheProblem
2.Whatwasthehypothesis?
3.Howwasthehypothesistested?
4.Shouldthehypothesisbesupportedorrejectedbasedontheexperiment?
5.Whatshouldbethenewhypothesisandhowwouldyoutestit?

HowPenicillinWasDiscovered
In1928,SirAlexanderFlemingwasstudyingStaphylococcusbacteriagrowinginculturedishes.Henoticedthata
moldcalledPenicilliumwasalsogrowinginsomeofthedishes.Aclearareaexistedaroundthemoldbecauseall
thebacteriathathadgrowninthisareahaddied.Intheculturedisheswithoutthemold,noclearareaswere
present.
Fleminghypothesizedthatthemoldmustbeproducingachemicalthatkilledthebacteria.Hedecidedtoisolatethis
substanceandtestittoseeifitwouldkillbacteria.Flemingtransferredthemoldtoanutrientbrothsolution.This
solutioncontainedallthematerialsthemoldneededtogrow.Afterthemoldgrew,heremoveditfromthenutrient
broth.Flemingthenaddedthenutrientbrothinwhichthemoldhadgrowntoacultureofbacteria.Heobservedthat
thebacteriadiedwhichwaslaterusedtodevelopantibioticsusedtotreatavarietyofdiseases.
6.Identifytheproblem.
7.WhatwasFleming'shypothesis?
8.Howwasthehypothesistested?
9.Shouldthehypothesisbesupportedorrejectedbasedontheexperiment?
10.Thisexperimentleadtothedevelopmentofwhatmajormedicaladvancement?

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