I have been designing the experiment and so far, i do not have any problems. This week and next week i will be conducting the experiment.
Firstly, the equipment i am going to use include:
- agar plates/ film
- cotton buds
- sterile containers
- water
- test subjects (one dog + one human)
Some things i am going to control include what the mouth has just consumed. I am going to take a sample just after they have just consumed some water. Also, i am going to try and limit the amount of air the cotton bud will touch by putting it in a sterile container.
My independent variable (what i changed) would be the type of mouth i would be taking the sample from. My dependent variable (what i am measuring) is the amount of bacteria present on the plate after it is incubated. By observing these plates, i will be able to collect my information.
I have also written my method, but will not contain it here. I will soon conduct my experiment. Wish me luck!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Researching. Could it be true?
Over the last two weeks or so, i've been doing quite a bit of research on the topic i want to test. Through my internet research i've discovered news articles on the matter as well researching the bacteria within a human and dogs mouth.
The news article i found talked about the myth about a dogs mouth being cleaner than a humans. The Veterinarian agreed that this is quite true and that the saliva of a dog is quite different to a humans. It has been proven that when a dog licks on his wounds, the wound heals faster.
Most people are familiar with the TV Show, Mythbusters, where they strive to prove whether myths such as the one i am doing are true or not. In October 2005, an episode aired where they did this exact same experiment. They concluded after collecting samples from inside both a human and dog mouth that it COULD be true. There was certainly MORE bacteria in the human mouth, but the severity of the bacteria in the dogs mouth is unknown.
When researching about the bacteria in a humans mouth, i found that there is about 100 million types of different bacteria for every MILLILITER of saliva in our mouths. However, most of these are harmless to us, as most are killed my enzymes in our saliva or our stomach. Although, other bacteria in our mouth can result in mouth diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease.
The bacteria a dogs mouth, as like a humans, plentiful. Most do not effect them, but it is known that there are certain bacteria in a dogs mouth, that is not in a humans and vice versa. In the site about the bacteria in a dogs mouth, it is stated that comparing the bacteria inside a dogs mouth and humans is like comparing 'apples and oranges'. I believe this to be quite true because we are two different species. However, assuming we rule out this variable and just concentrate on the AMOUNT of bacteria in the two different types of mouths, i believe this will be a successful experiment.
From the information i have gathered, i think my theory will turn out positive. The opinion of my fellow classmates, who have dogs also agree with me on this experiment. I think it will be very interesting to see whether this will turn out how i hope it will.
The news article i found talked about the myth about a dogs mouth being cleaner than a humans. The Veterinarian agreed that this is quite true and that the saliva of a dog is quite different to a humans. It has been proven that when a dog licks on his wounds, the wound heals faster.
Most people are familiar with the TV Show, Mythbusters, where they strive to prove whether myths such as the one i am doing are true or not. In October 2005, an episode aired where they did this exact same experiment. They concluded after collecting samples from inside both a human and dog mouth that it COULD be true. There was certainly MORE bacteria in the human mouth, but the severity of the bacteria in the dogs mouth is unknown.
When researching about the bacteria in a humans mouth, i found that there is about 100 million types of different bacteria for every MILLILITER of saliva in our mouths. However, most of these are harmless to us, as most are killed my enzymes in our saliva or our stomach. Although, other bacteria in our mouth can result in mouth diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease.
The bacteria a dogs mouth, as like a humans, plentiful. Most do not effect them, but it is known that there are certain bacteria in a dogs mouth, that is not in a humans and vice versa. In the site about the bacteria in a dogs mouth, it is stated that comparing the bacteria inside a dogs mouth and humans is like comparing 'apples and oranges'. I believe this to be quite true because we are two different species. However, assuming we rule out this variable and just concentrate on the AMOUNT of bacteria in the two different types of mouths, i believe this will be a successful experiment.
From the information i have gathered, i think my theory will turn out positive. The opinion of my fellow classmates, who have dogs also agree with me on this experiment. I think it will be very interesting to see whether this will turn out how i hope it will.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Starting Up
Coming up with something to test took a night of internet prowling but i finally got there. Since i'm really interested in animals, i remembered one my mum telling me that some people believe that dogs mouths are cleaner than a humans. So, i decided to put it down with a few of my other ideas. It ended up being the winner in my list, because it was something that didn't involve an opinion and was therefore going to be easier to conduct. Out of all my options, i believe the plant experiment would have been easiest, but it didn't appeal to me as much and i would have gotten bored.
The aim for this experiment would be to determine whether there is more bacteria found in a dogs mouth or a humans mouth.
My ideas in a mind map:
The aim for this experiment would be to determine whether there is more bacteria found in a dogs mouth or a humans mouth.
My ideas in a mind map:
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