New Invertebrate Experiments for LabTutor

Students can conduct four new Invertebrate experiments using LabTutor 3 software. The experiments guide students through a series of data acquisition and analysis exercises that illustrate metabolic principles, intracellular and extracellular electrophysiological concepts, and a muscle reflex, using readily-available invertebrates, including crickets, cockroaches, leeches, snails and moth pupae.

These experiments, which are included in the LabTutor Animal Physiology collection, are now available to download. Registered LabTutor users can download the experiments free of charge.

New invertebrate experiments available for downloading:

• Insect Metabolism
• Cockroach Ventral Nerve Cord
• Intracellular Action Potentials
• Gin Trap Closure Reflex

Insect Metabolism

Data recording shows the effect of stress on a cricket's metabolism.

During this experiment students will become familiar with the gas analysis technique used to determine the metabolic rate of an insect. The gas analyzer measures the amount of oxygen used and carbon dioxide produced by the animal over a period of time. Together with air flow rate, these measurements can be placed into equations to calculate metabolic rate — known as indirect calorimetry. LabTutor will show students how to calculate the respiratory quotient of the insects and, from this information, draw inferences about their diet. Next students will examine the effects of an environmental variable (stress, food or temperature) and, finally an insecticide, on the metabolic rate.

Cockroach Ventral Nerve Cord

Spontaneous activities versus evoked responses of the cockroach VNC.

Intracellular Action Potentials

Protocols for equipment use and setup are included in all LabTutor experiments.

Gin Trap Closure Reflex

This experiment enables students to compare the relative strength of the
abdominal reflex at different development stages in Manduca sexta.

Students will start this experiment by administering tactile stimulation to larvae and pupae of the Tobacco Hornworm, Manduca sexta. Students will then record EMG data from abdominal intersegmental muscles responsible for the gin trap closure reflex by using a pupal preparation that they will have set up themselves. Students will analyze the EMG recordings and from this, they will be able to draw inferences about the motor basis of animal behavior.

LabTutor Experiment Range

In addition to the LabTutor Animal Physiology experiments, a wide range of LabTutor Experiment Collections are available including:

• Human Physiology
• Exercise Physiology
• Pharmacology
• General Biology
• Psychophysiology
• Nursing
• Problem Based Learning

Authoring Tools

Educators can modify or create LabTutor experiments using LabAuthor.

18 January 2010