Drafts

The groups of three spiders in their enclosures will then be put in their respective temperature environments. 3 enclosures containing spiders will be placed inside in a room temperature environment. These spiders will be in a styrofoam box kept at 20°C for the duration of the project. 3 other enclosures will be placed in the cooler environment. A layer of ice below the enclosures will maintain a cold temperature for the styrofoam box used for the cool condition. A thin, flat layer of cardboard will separate the enclosures from the ice below them. A hole in this layer of cardboard will serve as a place to periodically add more ice to maintain a constant temperature. The previous ice will melt and drain out the bottom via a small hole. The last 3 enclosures will be heated by a heat lamp at roughly 25°C. Each enclosure housing for the three conditions will be comprised of the same styrofoam box for insulation purposes and fixed with a thermometer to ensure a consistent temperature of the course of the five days. All 9 spiders will be allowed to make webs during this period of time. The spiders will be given food/water and the ice will be switched as needed. After 5 days, each plastic cup will be weighed.

We aim to observe the effect of temperature on the production of webs for cellar spiders. Across the three temperature groups of our experiment, we want to know how the difference in temperature will affect the size of spider webs. From this, we aim to deduce the ideal temperature for web production in cellar spiders. Previous research has demonstrated that at lower temperatures, spider web production is reduced. In addition, our design for the enclosure is based on a previous method. We plan to acquire 9 cellar spiders of the same species and place them each in their own enclosure. We will weigh the enclosure immediately after the spider is placed inside. Each enclosure will have small air holes at the top, and a slightly larger hole for depositing food without disturbing the spider. Groups of 3 spiders and their enclosures will be placed into one of the three styrofoam boxes corresponding to a specific temperature condition. One box will be kept at room temperature, another will be kept below room temperature with the assistance of ice, and the third will be kept above room temperature by a heat lamp. The ice will be changed periodically to ensure a constant temperature over the course of the experiment. Furthermore, food will be placed into each enclosure at a predetermined interval of twelve hours. The experiment will take place over five days time. The the end of the five days, each enclosure will be weighed again and the weights from the beginning and end will be compared. Our research concerns the effect of temperature on web production and can be related to the global shift in temperature. Global warming is altering the climate and resulting in temperatures that would be considered abnormal in the past. As a result, the behavior and localization of organisms will change. We plan to apply this to cellar spiders to observe how global temperature change will alter their behavior, specifically web production.

Previously to Einstein’s theory of Gravity was Newtonian Gravity, which worked perfectly for most instances. According to Newtonian gravity, the strength of gravity depends on the distance between two objects. Einstein found fault with this particular idea since according to his theory of relativity, the distance between any two objects changes based on an observer’s reference frame. Thus, Einstein set force to develop a gravitational theory cohesive with his special relativity. Einstein concluded after years of work on “General Relativity” that gravity is the result of a curvature in a four-dimensional fabric that makes up our universe called spacetime. Space and time are not the distinct and absolute qualities we perceive them to be, according to Einstein. Rather, “Three-Dimensional Space” and “Time” actually exist as a single continuum of four-dimensional spacetime. Mass can actually curve this fabric of spacetime, similar to the way a heavy ball would pull down the center of a trampoline it was sitting on. If you were to roll a little ball on the trampoline with the heavy ball in the center, the little ball would be drawn toward the bigger ball would rotate around it in a circle. Normally, the little ball would follow a straight line, but the larger ball in the middle distorts the surface of the trampoline, and thus the path of other objects on it. This is analogous to gravity for us, but the earth replaces the big ball and the objects on and surrounding the earth replace the smaller ball. The earth warps spacetime and this causes the inward pull of gravity that we experience on earth. 

To make sure that the spider strictly picks a side based on substrate color is it important to keep all other factors consistent. If in the experiment the spider forms a web it will be taken out. We do not want the spider to keep choosing the same side just because there is a web there for it. Both sides of the environment should also be exactly the same except for background color.

Both sides of the environment should also be exactly the same except for background color. The temperature needs to be kept consistent inside of the tank. To do this, the spiders need to be kept away from windows and housed somewhere there is no breeze. It has been shown that spiders are less active in colder temperatures, so keeping them at room temperature (70°F) is important. Light entering from outside of the tank should also be the same on both sides. To keep this consistent do not place in sunlight, or somewhere that there are shadows. Overhead lights should be used because they will keep the light even on both sides. The lights should remain on 24 hours a day, so the spiders are always able to see the color of the background they are on.

The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between spider body size and spider web thickness. Spider webs are a material of interest to people because they are remarkably strong and able to withstand large forces, yet also soft. They vary widely in strength, some have even been said to be able to withstand hurricane force winds.  They have a very high elasticity. Discovering the various factors that contribute to differences in spider web characteristics, such as thickness, could help us learn more about the factors that contribute to their extreme elasticity and could be useful for Material engineering of a material that is both strong and soft. A previous study performed using polarized light microscopy has shown that there is some variation both in the spider silk diameters, and the mechanical characterization of silk.

Our experiment studies web production and weight of cellar spiders in relation to the temperature of their surrounding environment, which can be used as a model for the effects that climate change will have on cellar spiders.  Globally, species are expected to shift locations in response to climate change. When the area the organisms are in becomes too hot or cold, they move towards the poles or equator accordingly to adjust for the difference in temperature.  If the area becomes too hot, they will move towards the poles in order to stay in an environment that suits their needs. If the area becomes too cold, they will move to a warmer area, which is sometimes towards the equator, but occasionally not.  Most of the Earth is expected to warm over the next several decades, but there are some areas that are expected to get colder.

If it is observed that web weight or production varies at the temperatures our experiment tests, this could predict how this species of cellar spiders will respond to different temperatures.  Since webs are necessary for a spider’s survival, a deficiency in web weight and production could have detrimental consequences. The cellar spiders may be expected to shift their location accordingly.  If the species is not able to shift locations quickly enough, the species may be at risk for extinction.

There are however some important  articles that show this potential genetic altering can be beneficial, such as the baby born with three parents. I know this is likely a point of argument, but I guess I “believe” in natural selection, and if someone was meant to have children, they would. Although this child was quite literally a miracle, the mother had previously lost four other children. I’m not sure how ethical my reasoning is here, and I’m not saying she doesn’t deserve to have this child, but I don’t believe we, as a race, should be altering our DNA in a way that allows us to reproduce, when clearly we shouldn’t. When you think about the population size, imagine if everyone that couldn’t physically reproduce healthy children, went through a similar process to have children. We would run out of room on this planet. This doesn’t sound quite moral, but we have processes such as natural selection for reason, meaning the most fit of our population should reproduce, and those who can’t, shouldn’t.     

3 other containers with spiders will be placed in the cooler environment. An ice bucket and styrofoam box will be used to keep the temperature cool and the ice will be switched every 12 hours to maintain a consistent temperature. The last 3 containers will be heated by a heat lamp at roughly 30°C. All 9 spiders will be let be to make webs for 5 days. The spiders will be given food/water and the ice will be switched as needed. After 5 days, each plastic cup will be weighed.

To determine the web production in each environment, the plastic cup will be weighed at the end of the 5 days. The final weight and initial weight will be subtracted,  which will give us the weight of each spider web. The weights between the temperature groups will then be compared. Finally, a statistical test will be run to see if there is significance between the varying temperatures and spider web production.

Other experiments have been conducted that tested the color background preference in a species. The background color preference in tadpoles was tested to see if they preferred a white or black background (Moriya ,Kito ). They held the tadpoles in either a black or white container since hatching and then transferred them to the test container which was divided into white or black halves on the bottom and halfway up the walls using acrylic plates. This methodology is emulated in the design of our test boxes which will also split the tank in half and cover the floor and entire walls with the selected color  because of the spider’s ability to climb. We will be using printed poster paper to get the desired colors and cover the exterior sides of the clear tank so that the color is seen on the inside.

 

    Idealistically, a world free of congenital diseases would be a miraculous one, but the means needed to create such a world are far too severe to partake in. First, people have to decide what congenital diseases the world will be better without, and then comes the question of who is allowed or not allowed to reproduce. And does anyone have the right to restrict the ability of someone else’s reproductive success? In the past, the United States was home to a world of eugenics. According to the nature.com article on Eugenics, the American movement took place in the early 1900’s. In theory, the idea of selecting more desirable traits to rid of certain diseases sounds like a relatively good idea, until you take into consideration the means at which this would be accomplished. The eugenics movement involved many cases of involuntary sterilization and institutionalization. During this movement, we lacked the vast knowledge of genetics and genomes, so they believed certain qualities such as alcoholism, “criminality”, “feeblemindedness”, and epilepsy were traits that possessed a great genetic basis, which is not wholly the case. Also, if these were the traits thought to be undesired, which there are likely many good reasons one might not want to possess them, one can only imagine what type of traits might be considered undesirable now. In the 30’s, race was a relatively big factor in the eugenics movement. Many black families were sterilized or institutionalized, and who’s to say that within today's cultural turmoil, a similar thing might not occur? There’s not a clear line between one person might consider desirable or undesirable, a decision could not be justly drawn. Although we have greatly expanded our knowledge on genetics and natural selection since the eugenics movement, some attitudes against desirable traits may have not evolved as much, and as a result we might face a similar fight over what is or isn’t ethical in terms of selecting who can and cannot reproduce.  In the knowgenetics.org article about current day eugenics, this similar issue arises. If a certain disease if common within one ethnic group, then how do we screen all people of this ancestry without it turning into something that targets the well being of an entire population? Testing entire races might bring into play harsh stereotypes and biases against these people, as a result of testing that some people might have never wanted to be a part of. For all the good this potential genetic testing might do, I believe there will be too much ethical, political, and social backlash that will cause more harm to society than something such as down syndrome or congenital heart disease ever would.