How to write a Scientific Essay (Language Skills in Science)

image source: The art of scientific writing | PNUT network

LANGUAGE SKILLS IN SCIENCE

In today's lesson, Sebas will explain the "how-tos" in Scienfic Writing. 

Scientific Method de Sebas MM

After the video and the presentation, the students will have a look at the sample text. They will conduct the experiment and will write their own text about their findings on the experiment.

SAMPLE TEXT

Title: The Impact of Environmental Temperature on the Evolution of Fur Color in Mus musculus (House Mouse)

Introduction: Evolutionary processes, particularly natural selection, drive the adaptation of species to their environments. One key factor that influences evolutionary changes is environmental conditions, such as temperature. In mammals, fur color is often a trait that provides camouflage against predators and is influenced by environmental factors. For example, in colder climates, darker fur may be more advantageous for camouflage, while lighter fur may be better suited to warmer environments.

In this experiment, we hypothesize that mice populations exposed to cooler temperatures will evolve to have darker fur colors, while those in warmer environments will exhibit lighter fur colors. This hypothesis is based on the principles of natural selection, where advantageous traits increase in frequency over time within a population.

Method:

• At the beginning of the experiment, all mice had similar fur color distributions, with a mix of dark and light fur.
  
  

• Over 10 generations, the fur color of mice was observed and recorded, with the color classified into two categories: light and dark.
  
  

• To ensure genetic continuity, mating pairs were randomly selected from each group, and offspring were monitored for changes in fur color. Any mice showing unusual or non-characteristic fur colors were excluded from the study to maintain consistency.
  
  

• At the end of each generation, a sample of 20 mice per group was euthanized and their fur color was analyzed under controlled lighting to determine the percentage of dark versus light fur.
  
  

Results:

1. Low Temperature Group (5°C):
   
   

• Over 10 generations, the percentage of mice with dark fur increased significantly, rising from 45% to 80%. The population in this group had a clear dominance of darker fur individuals by the end of the experiment.
  
  

• Chi-square analysis indicated a statistically significant change in fur color distribution (p < 0.01).
  
  

2. Moderate Temperature Group (22°C):
   
   

• In this group, the fur color distribution remained relatively stable throughout the 10 generations. Approximately 55% of the mice retained light fur, while 45% exhibited darker fur, with no significant change in proportions observed.
  
  

• Chi-square analysis did not show a statistically significant difference (p = 0.35).
  
  

3. High Temperature Group (35°C):
   
   

• The high-temperature group saw a slight decrease in the percentage of dark-furred individuals, with the proportion of dark fur mice dropping from 40% to 25%. The majority of the population at the end of the experiment had light fur.
  
  

• Chi-square analysis showed a statistically significant shift toward lighter fur colors (p < 0.05).
  
  

Discussion:

The results of this experiment demonstrate a clear trend in the relationship between environmental temperature and the evolution of fur color in Mus musculus. Mice exposed to low temperatures (5°C) experienced selective pressure favoring darker fur, likely due to the increased need for camouflage against predators in a colder, more variable environment. The moderate temperature group (22°C) did not experience significant selective pressure, resulting in no significant change in fur color distribution. In contrast, mice in the high-temperature group (35°C) saw a decrease in dark fur, suggesting that lighter fur may be advantageous in warmer climates.

These findings are consistent with the principles of natural selection, where traits that provide a survival advantage become more prevalent in populations over generations.

Conclusion: This study provides evidence that temperature is an important environmental factor influencing the evolution of fur color in Mus musculus. Mice exposed to colder environments showed an increase in dark fur, while those in warmer environments exhibited a higher proportion of lighter fur. These findings demonstrate the role of natural selection in shaping traits that increase survival and reproduction in specific environmental contexts.