Protein Explorer (Protex) - University of Massachusetts ：蛋白质探索者（时）-麻州大学.docx

Aipotu I: GeneticsObjectives:To reinforce your understanding of Genetics, Biochemistry, and Molecular BiologyTo show the connections between these three disciplinesTo show how these three approaches can be combined to give a complete picture of a biological phenomenonTo figure out a complete explanation of a biological phenomenonTo experience how scientists develop and test hypothesesIntroduction:Aipotu (pronounced “ā pō too“ – the word is “utopia” spelled backwards) is a simulated world where users can explore a biological phenomenon in terms of genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and evolution.The Biological Phenomenon Under StudyIn this lab, you will explore the biological mechanisms behind the expression of flower color in a hypothetical plant. These flowers can be white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, or black.Scenario:You are the chief biologist for a breeder of fine flowers. Your company sells seeds that customers plant in their gardens. Since most of your customers expect that the flowers will grow each year from seeds produced the previous year, you try to produce true-breeding plants whenever you can.You’ve found a new species of flower with an attractive shape. You’ve collected four plants from the wild: two green, one red, and one white. Your customers would really like to have purple flowers from this plant. You set out to create a true-breeding purple flower.Hypothesis TestingIn the three Aipotu labs, you will use a process much like that used by practicing scientists as they conduct research. Although this process almost never follows a formula, it often proceeds as follows:Observe Patterns. Observe the natural world and look for patterns, exceptional events, etc. For example, you might observe that red flowers sometimes have white offspring.Develop hypotheses. From the observations, you define testable hypotheses – statements or questions that can be addressed experimentally. Continuing the example, you might reasonably hy