Scientific Method, BeriBeri and Penicillin

Dear Kalpita,

                   Aren't I fancy? I indented and everything. Anyway today I will be learning about scientific method. You might recall how yesterday I was asked about how Goldbergers experiments were not a good example of using Scientific method. The problem is that I don't really remember what scientific method is. Luckily i have the entire internet at my fingertips. I am guessing that this shall be an easy challenge.

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The Steps of Scientific Method

1.Ask a Question        

2.Research                 

3.Hypothesis              

4.Test your hypothesis

5. Analyze Data          

6.Draw Conclusion      

7.Share your results      

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Now we are going to combine scientific method with BeriBeri. 

When: 1887

What: BeriBeri was a nerve disease that caused weakness, loss of appetite and heart failure

Where: The Dutch East Indies

Why: A lack of Thiamine (a vitamin)  caused the disease

Who: Dr Eijkman helped find out that thiamine was what caused beriberi

At first scientists thought that beriberi was caused by bacteria A test was performed on chickens. There were two groups of chickens. Each group was kept separate of the other group so there could be no contact between the two groups. one group was injected with the disease and the other was not. however, both groups contracted the disease. Dr. Eijkman noticed that during the experiment both groups of chickens were fed polished rice whick lacks thiamin.

 This is a good example of scientific method.

The Question: What causes Beriberi?

Research: I'm not sure what research they did

Hypothesis: Beriberi is caused by bacteria

Test: The previously mentioned experiment

Analyze Data: they discovered that both groups got the disease yet they had not been near eachother. However they both ate polished rice during the experiment

Conclusion: Beriberi is caused by a lack of Thiamin.

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Since we are still on the topic of scientific method and diseases we will talk about scientific method and Penicillin

When: 1928
Who: Sir Alexander Fleming

Fleming was studying different molds in Petri dishes. There was one mold with a clear area around it where there was no bacteria.This mold was called Pennicillium. He thought that it produced a chemical that killed the bacteria. So he grew a larger sample and put it in a colony of bacteria. All the bacteria died.

Question: Why is there no bacteria surrounding the mold?

Research: ?


Hypothesis: The mold is killing the bacteria


Test: Stated above

Analyze Data: All the bacteria died

Conclusion: The hypothesis was right. The mold is killing the bacteria

Sharing the Results: This data was used to start making Penicillin