BIO110: Hypothesis Testing and Intro to Data Analysis

The homework assignment is more involved than usual, akin to two days' worth of work.
Students will design a project to execute next semester, integrating all concepts covered in class.
Key Components of the Assignment:
- Develop a research question.
- Formulate a hypothesis.
- Answer questions regarding the feasibility of the project.
- Consider ethical implications related to the project.
The assignment will be available on Canvas for submission starting today.
Students can submit early during the next class time for assistance.
Attendance incentive: students may receive extra attendance credits by attending next week's class, where the instructor will be available for one-on-one guidance.

The project must be executable with little to no resources, either individually or in groups of up to three people.
Resource Considerations:
- The project should ideally require minimal to no advanced instrumentation or external research lab resources.
- Potential methods could include:
- Survey data collection from classmates.
- Basic measurements (e.g., blood pressure, pulse).
Ethical considerations should be minimal, focused on classroom environments—no data collection outside the classroom or involving non-classmates.
The project is designed to take place over a semester, focusing on research process familiarity rather than groundbreaking discoveries.
Students are encouraged to be innovative and creative while adhering to project constraints.

Students seeking clarity or specific project ideas can approach the instructor for help, even before the next class.
The instructor emphasizes that while students are encouraged to work independently, they should also feel free to consult with others and ask questions regarding their projects.

Discussion of a student’s current work in a technical report writing class, focusing on microgravity's effects on cells, prompts a conversation about simplifying project concepts if necessary.
Projects should focus on achievable goals that involve foundational research principles.

The instructor discusses collaboration with the engineering department for biomedical engineering projects.
Specific ongoing projects include creating adaptive cars for children with special needs. Such projects have a biomedical engineering foundation, requiring understanding of biological and physiological constraints.
Students interested in participating in future engineering projects should reach out via email for discussions and involvement opportunities.

Course evaluations have recently opened; students are encouraged to provide feedback on this class.
The instructor aims to enhance the course based on student input for future offerings.
Consideration of the importance of faculty recommendations in the future and the impact of completing evaluations.

As the semester ends, the instructor expresses gratitude and well wishes to students for the holiday season.
A light-hearted Thanksgiving turkey fact is shared, highlighting the artificial insemination practices in commercial turkey production due to size and breeding issues. This serves as an informal and humorous note to connect with students on a personal level.

Thanksgiving Turkey Insights:
- Commercial turkeys are predominantly a product of artificial insemination due to their size.
- Natural breeding is difficult, and smaller, non-artificially inseminated turkeys exist but are rare.
- Mention of a TV show "Dirty Jobs" introduces a relatable cultural reference that engages the class on this topic.