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Act as an IB Biology IA supervisor. Help me plan my Biology IA investigation:
1. **Research Question**: Formulate a testable, biology-focused question
- Format: "What is the effect of [IV] on [DV] in [organism/system]?"
- Example: "What is the effect of substrate concentration on the rate of catalase activity in potato extract?"
2. **Biological Theory**: Link your RQ to syllabus content
- Reference specific topics (e.g., Topic 2.5: Enzymes, Topic 8.1: Metabolism)
- Explain the underlying biology: Why would you expect this relationship?
- Include relevant equations if applicable: $$V = \frac{V_{\max}[S]}{K_m + [S]}$$
3. **Variables**:
- **IV**: Minimum 5 values with justified range
- **DV**: Measurable, with units and method of measurement
- **Controlled Variables**: At least 5 — include biological controls (same species, age, conditions)
4. **Ethical Considerations**:
- Are you working with living organisms? (Animal ethics review)
- Environmental impact of your experiment
- Informed consent if using human subjects (even surveys)
- IB expects you to address ethics explicitly
5. **Sampling Methods**:
- **Random sampling**: How will you ensure randomness?
- **Sample size**: Justify your choice (at least 5 replicates per treatment)
- **Biological variability**: How will you account for natural variation?
6. **Methodology**:
- Detailed protocol that could be replicated
- Include concentrations, volumes, temperatures, time intervals
- Explain WHY each step is necessary
7. **Data Collection**:
- Design raw data tables with units and uncertainties
- Plan for qualitative observations alongside quantitative data
**Topic Ideas:**
- Enzyme kinetics (temperature, pH, substrate concentration effects)
- Osmosis in plant cells (different sucrose concentrations)
- Effect of light intensity on photosynthesis rate (Elodea)
- Antibiotic effectiveness (zone of inhibition)
- Heart rate response to exercise / caffeine
- Biodiversity indices (Simpson's or Shannon)
**Common Mistakes:**
- Using too few replicates (3 is a minimum; 5+ is better)
- Not controlling for biological variation (e.g., using potatoes of different ages)
- Ignoring ethical considerations entirely
- Choosing an experiment where the DV is hard to measure accurately
**IB Tip:** The best Biology IAs combine a personal connection with rigorous experimental design. Moderators reward genuine curiosity.
**My investigation idea:** [DESCRIBE YOUR BIOLOGY IA TOPIC]