Have you ever wondered how scientists figure out what a drug actually does to a living organism? In this Semilab, you'll learn how to design and carry out a real biological experiment—using tiny creatures like Daphnia (a.k.a. water fleas) as your test subjects. We’ll begin by exploring how to choose the right animals for an experiment, decide on group sizes, and ask clear scientific questions. Then, we’ll dive into building behavioral assays—that’s science-speak for “how to measure what the animal is doing”—and learn how to turn biological observations into real data. You’ll learn how to prepare treatments using real, over-the-counter drugs like aspirin (safe for kids!) in tiny doses, make serial dilutions, and think through important variables like side effects, diet, and light cycles. What happens if a drug works differently at night? What if a tiny change in dose makes a big difference? As you observe effects on behavior, heart rate, digestion, and reproduction, you’ll also study the anatomy and physiology of both humans and Daphnia—with a special focus on organs like the brain, gut, kidneys, and visual system. And throughout it all, we’ll talk about ethics: What does it mean to experiment on a living creature—even a tiny one? How do scientists make sure their experiments are respectful, humane, and meaningful? How do we balance the need to learn with the responsibility to care? Finally, we’ll connect everything back to human health. When people take medication, what can go wrong? Why do instructions say “take with food” or “avoid sunlight”? And how can science help us use medicines more wisely? If you like to test that secret grandma “herbal medicine” – bring it with you! This Semilab is a journey into biology, medicine, and the real-world decisions scientists make every day.
DIY user guide for safe experimenting with Daphnia at home:
https://www.protocols.io/view/diy-intervention-testing-in-daphnia-a-simplified-w-e6nvwdno2lmk/v1
Daphnia – a new model organism for intervention testing:
https://longevity.technology/news/a-better-model-organism-for-testing-antiaging-drugs/