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Page 10 of 19 Unseen Influences: Sleuthing the Effects of BPA on Gene Expression.  Students develop an understanding of how scientists conduct research on the effects of endocrine disruptors on gene expression by using ImageJ to analyze the results of a microarray study of tissueexposed to bisphenol A (BPA). After measuring how much the genes in the experiment were up- or down-regulated following exposure to BPA, they investigate the genes’ functions and predict the impact of the changes in gene expression on human health. Small Worries? Exploring the Environmental Risks of Nanoparticles.  Students develop an understanding of the size and strange properties of nanoparticles by using ImageJ to measure various small particles and explore how aspect ratio affects surface area. Using quantitativeand qualitative measurements of images from toxicology studies, they analyze inflammation and macrophage activity in mice exposed to two types of asbestos, and determine which type is toxic. Next, they examine five types of nanoparticles and predict which ones may be toxic based on what they learned about asbestos, then compare the nanoparticles’ effects to those of asbestos. Lastly, they weigh the promise of nanotechnology and the potential risks of introducing nanoparticles into the environment. |
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