Froggies Make Data
North High School students and teachers have successfully conducted an intensive study in developmental toxicology. GK-12 fellow Kate Brane works with Dr. Karen Brown in the area of environmental toxicology using the frog as a model organism. This project examined sublethal concentrations of a popular herbicide Isoxaben. Over a period of eight weeks tadpoles were grown from eggs in the presence of low concentrations of isoxaben. At a certain developmental stage, measurments of growth were taken. This work is being prepared for publication in a scientific journal.
Another research project generated human physiology data suitable for publication. Fellow Melissa Bean worked with teachers and students at Northeast HS and Northwest HS on a porject directed by Melissa's advisor Dr. Jeremy Patterson. The project examined improper lifting techniques and how this initiates the Valsalva response. In a nutshell, holding one's breath while lifting increases chest pressure and effects how the heart works. Dr. Patterson had done a study like on college students and now we've extended the study to include high school students. This work is also being prepared for publication in a scientific journal.