Life Sciences Commons^™

A Teachable Unit On Soft Corals With Instructional Method Variances, Emily Breech

Honors Projects

The soft coral Sinularia flexibilis contains an aqueous alcohol extract that has shown antineoplastic activity against lymphocytic leukemia (Weinheimer and Matson, 1977). It also has other biological properties that work as antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory agents, and cytotoxicity activities (Kamel and Slattery, 2005). There is much research on the effects of flow rate on growth and morphology (Khalesi, Beeftink, & Wijffels, 2007) and the effects of light-dependency on growth rate (Khalesi, Beeftink, & Wijffels, 2009). The purpose of this student project was to further research on S. flexibilis, as well as incorporate that research into evaluating the effects of lecture-based teaching …

Effectiveness Of The Qar Reading Strategy On Science Reading, Courtney Anne Broser

MSU Graduate Theses

The Questions-Answer Relationship (QAR) is a reading strategy that guides student comprehension by allowing the student to demonstrate their ability to determine importance, make inferences, and monitor comprehension through questions. The study was conducted on high school students in physical science to determine if the implementation of the QAR would improve content area literacy knowledge and confidence from pre-test and post-test data. Pedagogies included modeling, collaboration, independent work, guided practice, direct instruction, and inquiry laboratories. Through the implementation of the QAR method, the researcher found that students that learned new reading strategies gained confidence and were more engaged in the …

Instructional Scientific Humor In The Secondary Classroom, Francine Wizner

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study is an examination of the manner in which educators employ scientific content humor and how that humor is perceived by their students. Content humor is a useful strategy in drawing the attention of students and improving their receptivity toward scientific information. It is also a useful tool in combating the growing distractions of the electronic classroom. Previous studies have found that humor has a positive effect on knowledge, memory, and understanding. However, few studies have been conducted below the undergraduate level and mainly quantitative measures of student recall have been used to measure learning. This study employed multiple …

Science Fair: Is It Worth The Work? A Qualitative Study On Deaf Students' Perceptions And Experiences Regarding Science Fair In Primary And Secondary School, Vivian Lee Smith

Dissertations

Science fairs have a long history in American education. They play an important role for establishing inquiry-based experiences in a science classroom. Students may be more motivated to learn science content when they are allowed to choose their own science fair topics. The purpose of this study was to examine Deaf college students’ perceptions and experiences regarding science fair participation during primary and/or secondary school and determine the influence of science fair involvement on the development of language skills, writing skills, and higher order thinking skills as well as its impact on choice of a STEM major.

This study examined …

Investigating The Role Of P53 In The Germ Cell Apoptotic Pathway, Jamie Lamkin

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Investigation of the role of p53 in germ cell apoptosis pathways.

An Evaluation Of Hands-On Instruction As A Method To Improve Observation Skills In Second Grade Students, Lydia Rogers

Master's Theses

A hands-on assessment tool for testing second-grade students' ability to discriminate physical attributes (size, shape, color, texture, pattern, edge, part-to-whole, and type) of mollusk shells was developed, pretested, and administered to 48 second-grade students at Maybeury Elementary School, Henrico County, Virginia. Treatment group students (n = 24) attended five afterschool, activitybased classes in which close observation of object a~tributes was taught. The classes included the same discriminations as did the assessment test but used different materials. Control and test group students were retested. Neither paired t test nor question-by-question analysis showed a significant improvement in the test group's score. Presence …

Food Habits Of Dicamptodon Ensatus And Associated Fish Species Of Maratta Creek, Washington, Authur L. Antonelli

All Master's Theses

Three cold-blooded vertebrates, Dicamptodon ensatus, Cottus tenuis, and Salmo gairdneri were investigated as to food habits for a period of one year. The existence of competition between these animals for food was determined by means of stomach analysis. The results were compared relative to each vertebrate and the bottom fauna procurred from the stream. It was shown that the food habits of D. ensatus and S. gairdneri were diverse enough to warrant partial exclusion on the basis of food. C. tenuis demonstrated selectivity and was shown to be under competitive stress from the other two species.

The Effects Of Herbicides On Three Soil Inhabiting Blue Green Algal Species, Lee C. Darlington

All Master's Theses

The object of this study was to examine the effects of varying concentrations of 2, 4-D, Dalapon, and Tordon on the growth of several nitrogen-fixing blue-green algal species obtained from soil samples and grown under culture conditions in the laboratory.

Breeding Biology Of Cassin’S Finch, Carpodacus Cassinii, F. John Erickson Jr.

All Master's Theses

The present study was undertaken in an effort to increase our understanding of this species' life history, with special reference to the functional significance of delayed plumage development in males. Field studies were conducted throughout the breeding season, and efforts were made to determine whether or not sub-adult males were successful in acquiring mates. In conjunction with consideration of the function of delayed plumage development in males of this species, a general review of this phenomenon has been undertaken in the order Passeriformes.

Purification And Properties Of Triosephosphate Isomerase From Selected Chlorophyta, John C. Meeks

All Master's Theses

It is the purpose of this study to purify and investigate some of the properties of triosephosphate isomerase from two unicellular green algae 1 Ankistrodesmus Braunii and Scenedesmus acuminatus, and one filamentous green alga, Chara sp.

Evaluation Of The Short Sternum As Diagnostic Evidence For Trisomy-E, Frank George Deeter

All Master's Theses

This study has demonstrated that a reliable technique for determining short sternums has been developed. Evidence for its reliability is given by two distinct and highly significant correlations.

A Curriculum Study Of The Biological Science Courses In The Secondary Schools And College Of Utah During 1947-48, Merrill H. Gunnell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

At the present time there is a feeling among biologists in Utah that there should be improvement in biological science courses and course sequence to better fill the needs of the non technical student. There are many students filling group requirements with an accumulation of courses which may not provide them with the more important fundamental concepts and principles in biology. Information concerning these courses in high schools and colleges in necessary to provide a basis for curriculum revision in the field. Such information should be useful in evaluating the present system and suggesting modifications. Because of the need for …