Biology Mice Case Study
A group of 11 mice was given water, and another group of 10 mice was supplied with diluted black coffee (coffee:water 1:1) as drinking fluids for five weeks. The composition of the diets and living conditions were similar for both groups of mice. Blood glucose was monitored weekly for all mice. After five weeks, there was no change in average body weight between groups. Results indicated that blood glucose concentrations increased significantly in the mice that drank water compared with those that were supplied with coffee. Finally, blood glucose concentration in the coffee group exhibited a 30 percent decrease compared with that in the water group.
(In the original paper*, the investigators acknowledged that the coffee for the experiment was supplied as a gift from a corporation.)
Answer the following questions:
1. What was the hypothesis of this experiment? (Reminder: Hypothesis is a statement.) What question(s) was (were) the investigator asking?
Hypothesis: Testing a group of mice which were fed only water compared to mice fed a coffee/water mixture would identify benefits of coffee consumption
Question: Would an animal lab test provide further evidence of the positive effects of coffee in diabetes patients?
2. Which is the control group? Why?
The control group for this experiment would be the 11 mice which were given only water to drink. Water is the controlled substance in this experiment in that all mice, in both test groups, received water.
3. Which is the treatment group? Why?
The treatment group in this experiment were the 10 mice which drank the coffee/water mixture. The experiment was conducted based upon the hypothesis that adding coffee into water would effect the mice differently that those mice which only drank water, without coffee.
4. Did the researchers follow the scientific method in their experimental design? Explain.
Yes the researchers followed the scientific method in their experiment design. They had an initial observation
(In the original paper*, the investigators acknowledged that the coffee for the experiment was supplied as a gift from a corporation.)
Answer the following questions:
1. What was the hypothesis of this experiment? (Reminder: Hypothesis is a statement.) What question(s) was (were) the investigator asking?
Hypothesis: Testing a group of mice which were fed only water compared to mice fed a coffee/water mixture would identify benefits of coffee consumption
Question: Would an animal lab test provide further evidence of the positive effects of coffee in diabetes patients?
2. Which is the control group? Why?
The control group for this experiment would be the 11 mice which were given only water to drink. Water is the controlled substance in this experiment in that all mice, in both test groups, received water.
3. Which is the treatment group? Why?
The treatment group in this experiment were the 10 mice which drank the coffee/water mixture. The experiment was conducted based upon the hypothesis that adding coffee into water would effect the mice differently that those mice which only drank water, without coffee.
4. Did the researchers follow the scientific method in their experimental design? Explain.
Yes the researchers followed the scientific method in their experiment design. They had an initial observation