The Lab Report

Lab Report
Effects of Caffeine on the Regeneration and Locomotion of Lumbriculus variegates
By: Sherain Thomas
Abstract
Caffeine, a widely known supplement, has been put upon such a wide ranged scale for use because of its stimulance rate. Joseph Titus, Megan Stevens, and I have been testing Caffeine's effects on Lumbriculus variegates' regeneration and locomotion on a racetrack. We began our procedure for regeneration by cutting the worms in triplicates and placing them in the Spring Water control and the low concentration of Caffeine within five trials. Our independent variables were the Spring Water and Caffeine. In regeneration the first dependent variable was the original and additional segments observed during the two week period. The second dependent variable was the time lengths of different worms exposed to Caffeine and Spring Water around the racetrack in locomotion. After my group's experiments we came to the conclusion that regeneration was not a positive stimulant on our worms. It actually lessened our worm’s regeneration and locomotion rates. Since, most humans are negatively affected by an overdose of Caffeine; we theorized that our worms were overdosed or weaker consumption leveled organisms.

Introduction/Problem Statement
Caffeine is one the most used substances on earth. We decided to test its effects of locomotion on a racetrack, and regeneration for the organism Lumbriculus variegates to see if the results have a significant effect on the worms regeneration and mobility. My group chose Lumbriculus variegatus because of their permeable skin and easily stilmulated nerve system.
We began our procedure for regeneration by cutting the worms in triplicates and placing them in the Control: Spring Water, and the low concentration of Caffeine within five trials. Our independent variables will be the Spring Water and Caffeine the worms are subjected to. The first dependent variable will be the original and additional segments observed during regeneration. The second dependent variable will be the time lengths of locomotion for different worms exposed to Caffeine and Spring Water around the racetrack.

Hypothesis
If Lumbriculus variegates are affected by the low concentration of Caffeine, then their locomotion rates and regeneration rates will increase promoting regeneration, and mobility.

Methods
Part one of our experiment will show the direct effect Caffeine has on the regeneration rates of the Lumbriculus variegates. Our materials will include: the worms, Caffeine supplement, spring water, microscopes, razor blades, pipette, Petri dish, and other required lab equipment. We will begin by preparing the control and Caffeine, and then setting up the worms in triplicates for multiple trials.
The Control groups would be placed in spring water for about 15 minutes. The test groups would be placed in 0.1 gram/ml of aqueous solution of Caffeine. Afterwards the worms will be discarded into the used and unused solution.
Part two of our experiment will show the effect Caffeine has on the locomotion rates of the Lumbriculus variegates on a racetrack. We will make a racetrack, divided into centimeters around the outer edge and within it will be a circular centerpiece, which the worms will travel around. They will be timed every thirty seconds. To do this we will need worms, microscopes, Caffeine, pipettes, Petri Dish, spring water, and other required lab equipment.
We will begin once again by preparing the control solutions, and the 0.1gram/ml of aqueous solution of Caffeine. Next we will place the worms in each for 5 trials. They will be cut in triplicates, and placed in the treatment. New growth will be observed, measured, and compared to the control. After all observations are taken and recorded the used and unused material will be discarded.

Results
In both locomotion and regeneration the low concentration of Caffeine had a detrimental effect on Lumbriculus variegatus. In both groups the spring water allowed the worms to act normally, continuously regenerate, and move. The low concentration of Caffeine slowed down the worm’s regeneration rate, which decreased the amount of segments each worm could reproduce. The low concentration of Caffeine also slowed down the worm’s locomotion rate, which decreased each worms speed around the racetrack and made them move slower than the worms in the Spring Water control.

Conclusions/Future Implications
We use Caffeine in medicines, drinks, and foods. When most people consume Caffeine they get an energy boost, which makes them more alert. However, too much Caffeine can make you anxious, restless, and irritable. This substance has been popular for hundreds of years, and has become a common use for college students that need to be alert for nightly study sessions and early morning lectures. Another group Caffeine has had a major effect on are the athletes. Many athletes believe this substance enhances their mental and physical performance, the only down side is the harmful side effects they could experience after consumption.
Caffeine actually lessened our worm’s regeneration and locomotion rates. Therefore, our low concentration of Caffeine had a negative effect on Lumbriculus variegates. We considered this to be a Caffeine overdose, one similar to a human, causing negative results.

References Cited
C. Drewes. “Lumbriculus variegates: A Biology Profile.” http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/faculty/DrewesC/htdocs/Lvgen4.htm
C. Drewes."Culturing Lumbriculus variegatus" http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/faculty/DrewesC/htdocs/LVCULT.html

Effects of Caffeine on the Regeneration and Locomotion of Lumbriculus variegatus

Research Proposal
Effects of Caffeine on the Regeneration and Locomotion of Lumbriculus variegates
By: Sherain Thomas

Introduction/Background

Caffeine is one the most used substances on earth. We use it in medicines, drinks, and foods. When most people consume Caffeine they get an energy boost, which makes them more alert. However, too much Caffeine can make you anxious, restless, and irritable. This substance has been popular for hundreds of years, and has become a common use for college students that need to be alert for nightly study sessions and early morning lectures. Another group Caffeine has had a major effect on are the athletes. Many athletes believe this substance enhances their mental and physical performance, the only down side is the harmful side effects they could experience after consumption. Since, Caffeine has been put upon such a wide ranged scale for use we decided to test its effects of locomotion on a racetrack and regeneration for the organism Lumbriculus variegates.
We plan on beginning our procedure for regeneration by cutting the worms in triplicates and placing them in the Control: Spring Water, and the low concentration of Caffeine within five trials. Our independent variables will be the Spring Water and Caffeine the worms are subjected to. The first dependent variable will be the original and additional segments observed during regeneration. The second dependent variable will be the time lengths of locomotion for different worms exposed to Caffeine and Spring Water around the racetrack.

Literature Review
Charles Drewes has given an editorial describing what is shown in the organism Lumbriculus variegates. In it he states they have no skeletons, permeable skin, and the fluid inside their bodies gives them support and form. Their bodies are made up of about 150-250 segments. Regeneration allows these organisms to regenerate lost body parts. So the effect of Caffeine on these worms will allow my group and I to see if they will regenerate in a low concentration of Caffeine and the Control: Spring Water.

Our other experiment test the locomotion of the worms on a racetrack in Spring Water and Caffeine, they will be timed by the second in centimeters around the racetrack. When we test Caffeine’s effect on the worms we will see the difference in the regeneration process and mobility.

Martinez, Veronica G., Reddy, Proshant, K., and Zoran, Mark J. performed a toxicity test showing the two basic processes in the regeneration of Lumbriculus variegatus in Epimorphic and Morphallaxis. The differentiation of a blastema and the de nova generation of body parts and tissues is Morphallaxis. This pattern involves transfer tissues and body parts into newly organized structures. Morphallactic regeneration has been a reorganization for the function of escaped reflexes and their neural correlates in Lumbriculus variegatus. Boric Acid, has been proven to be toxic. It effects the organisms sexual reproduction and development, so it is possible boric acid may disrupt epimorphosis (segmental regeneration) in Lumbriculus variegatus. In this experiment fragments did not undergo head or tail formation, but morphallaxis was still found. Which meant that morphallactic mechanisms are not dependent on ongoing epimorphosis.

In Charles Drewes "Culturing Lumbriculus Variegatus" he describes one of the easiest ways to maintain Lumbriculus variegatus. To begin you need a deep pan or small aquarium filled with 2-3 inches of spring water. Transfer a few undamaged worms with a pipette to the spring water, add brown paper towel to the bottom of the entire container, the towel acts as a fibrous substrate of decomposing material for the worms and microscopic organisms. These worms should be fed sinking fish food pellets and each day they should be given more pellets if they have consumed all of the others. Continuous aeration is recommended, and becomes extremely significant as biological decomposition of the paper occurs. Water loss will increase as this happens and the worm population continues to grow. The simple solution to this problem will be the adding of spring water. The culture water should be replaced every two weaks. By following these procedures the worms should reproduce continuously by asexual reproduction.

Hypothesis
If Lumbriculus variegates are affected by the low concentration of Caffeine, then their locomotion rates and regeneration rates will increase promoting regeneration, and mobility.
Methods
Part one of our experiment will show the direct effect Caffeine has on the regeneration rates of the Lumbriculus variegates. Our materials will include: the worms, Caffeine supplement, spring water, microscopes, razor blades, pipettes, Petri dish, and other required lab equipment. We will begin by preparing the contol and Caffeine, and then setting up the worms in triplicates for multiple trials.
The Contol groups would be placed in spring water for about 15 minutes. The test groups would be placed in 0.5 gram/ml of aqueous solution of Caffeine. Afterwards the worms will be discarded into the used and unused solution.
Part two of our experiment will show the effect Caffeine has on the locomotion rates of the Lumbriculus variegates on a racetrack. We will make a racetrack, divided into centimeters around the outer edge and within it will be a circular centerpiece, which the worms will travel around. They will be timed every thirty seconds. To do this we will need worms, microscopes, Caffeine, pipettes, Petri Dish, spring water, and other required lab equipment.
We will begin once again by preparing the control solutions, and the 0.5gram/ml of aqueous solution of Caffeine. Next we will place the worms in each for 5 trials. They will be cut in triplicates, and placed in the treatment. New growth will be observed, measured, and compared to the control. After all observations are taken and recorded the used and unused material will be discarded.

Timeline
· Thursday, June 25- Conduct the first part of the experiment. Record data on segments that will regenerate within one week of being exposed to the caffeine.
· Thursday, July 2-Begin second part of the experiment. Record data on each worms mobility.
· Thursday, July 9-Record amount of additional segments. Finish experiment, and begin the analysis of the data.

Discussion
Since Caffeine has been around it has been proven to be a stimulant. With this supplement we plan on observing the negative and positive stimulant effects Caffeine may have on the Lumbriculus variegates.

Working Bibliography
C. Drewes. “Lumbriculus variegates: A Biology Profile.” http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/faculty/DrewesC/htdocs/Lvgen4.htm
Martinez, Veronica G., Reddy, Proshant, K., and Zoran, Mark J. Asexual reproduction and segmental regeneration, but not morphallaxis, are inhibited by boric acid in Lumbriculus variegatus. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=9&sid=1f2695c4-5261-408c-a1bc- ade9be96c84a%40sessionmgr2&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=20859751#db=a9h&AN=20859751

C. Drewes."Culturing Lumbriculus variegatus"

http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/faculty/DrewesC/htdocs/LVCULT.htm