Transcript Bellevue, Washington, Team 2

PECTOBACTERIUM
HYDROLYZATION OF
POLYSACCHARIDES IN
MICROGRAVITY
SCHOOL: OPEN WINDOW SCHOOL
COMMUNITY: BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON
CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS: NOLAN DANIELS, BESS HURLOCK
SONJA LARSON, AND NATHAN WEN
TEACHERS: ERICA MAHONEY AND RANDY HOLLINGER, OPEN WINDOW SCHOOL
THE SCIENCE AND RATIONALE
Our experiment will identify if the Pectobacterium
carotovorum will break down the polysaccharides (the material
that holds the cell walls together) of the Solanum tuberosum
(potato) in microgravity.
This experiment would be important in the areas of
biology, food health, and future space travel. Our experiment’s
results would provide insight on what measures we have to take to
keep food viable and the effects of bacteria growth in
microgravity.
THE EXPERIMENT QUESTION
Will the bacteria, Pectobacterium carotovorum with Plasma
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), breakdown the polysaccharides of
the Solanum tuberosum?
• The Plasma DNA in the bacteria would allow us to use ultraviolet
(UV) light to see where the bacteria is and how it impacted the
polysaccharides.
• If the bacteria eats the polysaccharides in the Solanum tuberosum,
then the collapse of the cell wall structure will be visible.
DESIGN OF THE EXPERIMENT
Experiment Steps:
1) Sterilize the Solanum tuberosum, put 1.5 grams of the Solanum
tuberosum and 2.3 milliliters of sterile water in one side of the Type 2
FME.
2) Put 2.3 milliliters of sterile water infused with Pectobacterium
carotovorum in the other side of the Type 2 FME.
3) Two days before undocking from the ISS, unclamp the clamp and shake
gently for five seconds, so the Pectobacterium carotovorum can interact
with the Solanum tuberosum.
4) We timed this step to allow Pectobacterium carotovorum to breakdown
the cell walls of the potato long enough for results, but not too long that
it will ruin the experiment.
Analysis Procedures
1) Examine the tube to notice if the Solanum tuberosum polysaccharides
have broken down and compare it to the ground experiment.
2) Using a microscope, we will look for evidence for cell wall resistance and
use pictures of both samples to compare. Our results will be recorded with
pictures on a macroscopic and microscopic level.
3) We will also use a sensitive force meter to measure the cell wall strength
of both samples of Solanum tuberosum.
4) We will use a chart to compare the amount of Pectobacterium
carotovorum on the Solanum tuberosum with an ultraviolet light to see the
amount of surface area that’s covered.
GROUND EXPERIMENT RESULTS
1) Our ground experiment had to be changed because we couldn’t get the
bacteria fast enough.
2) Our contacted expert said we could obtain a similar bacteria called
Clostridium pectinovorum, by rubbing a potato in dirt, stabbing it with a
fork, and, putting it in water with a tinfoil covering for seven days.
3) We knew the bacteria had grown when the potatoes started floating.
4) We were looking at how the bacteria effected the potato.
5) When analyzed, we found that the bacteria made the potatoes very
mushy, had a pungent smell, and, started to destroy the potato’s cell
structure.
6) Under a microscope, we saw a lot of evidence of bacteria.
OUR HYPOTHESIS
• Our hypothesis is that the Solanum tuberosum polysaccharides
will be more resistant in microgravity than on Earth and not have
its cell walls collapse under the breakdown of Pectobacterium
carotovorum as it does on Earth.
• We believe this because we think that gravity is a factor that
pulls the weakened plant cells apart and in microgravity it will
be more resistant.
• Another reason is that we think the bacteria may not be able to
bond to the plant in microgravity thus making the plant rot
happen slower.
THANK YOU REVIEW BOARD!
Phyllis Harvey-Buschel, Ed.D.
Ming L. Mui
Director, Washington MESA
Engineering, and Science Achievement)
Mathematics Department Chair, (Mathematics,
The Overlake School)
Cheryl Lydon, Ed.D.
STEM Program Manager, Puget Sound ESD
David Horn, M.D.
Otolaryngology, Seattle Children's Hospital
Assistant Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology, University of Washington
Fay Shaw, Ph.D.
Dr. Brett Adams
Post-Doc Researcher in Mechanical Engineering, Tufts
Associate Professor of biology at Utah State University
Outreach Coordinator, Jumbo Maker Studio
Adrian KC Lee, ScD
Associate Professor
Sally Goetz Shuler
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences
Executive Director at WISE
Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I-LABS)
Washington Informal Science Education Consortium
THANK YOU CASIS, SSEP NATIONAL SPONSOR!