1.Imagine we had collected class data for the taste test activity (how many individuals in the class were tasters for each chemical, and how many were non tasters for each chemical).

What is the dependent variable and what is the independent variable?

This was the activity:

In this lab exercise, you will be investigating the appearance of a genetically controlled trait in yourself. You will be determining whether you contain an allele that allows you to taste three separate, harmless chemicals. For each of the papers that has been provided to you, if the paper has any taste at all (besides, of course, paper), then you are a taster, and possess at least one dominant allele of the gene. If the substance tastes like paper (like the control), then you have two recessive alleles of the gene.

You will begin this exercise by tasting a control piece of paper, which is paper with no chemicals added to it. This allows you to see what plain paper tastes like. If any of the following strips of paper tastes like this, record that you are a "non taster." Next, please taste the strip marked "P." This strip has been coated in a chemical called PTC. I'm sorry to say, that if you can taste this, it is probably not going to taste good... and that's usually true for all three chemicals. Having done this experiment for many years now, I find that tasters often wish they weren't, and non-tasters often feel left out, not knowing why their fellow classmates are making such horrible facial expressions. (And I see that tasters just do not understand how a non-taster can repeatedly put a strip of paper in their mouth, trying so hard to taste something that is disgusting. It's rather comical.) Next, please try the strip marked "T." This strip has been coated with the chemical Thiourea. Lastly, please try the strip marked "S." This strip has been coated in Sodium Benzoate (good news- some report this tastes sweet.... But not everyone). Please be sure to record all your results in the table found in the handout.