Nurturing Vs Nature For Biology Distance Learning Class

1
Nurturing Vs Nature For Biology - Distance
Learning Class

• By Joy Kerr

2
Project Goals

• Determine if nurturing has an affect on
• Behavior
• Relationship
• Size

3
Golden Hamster

• Syrian Golden Hamster
• Order Rodents (Rodential)
• Suborder Mouse relatives (Myomorpha)
• Family (burrowers (Cricetidae
• Genus Hamster (Mesocricetus

4
Information

• Hamsters are territorial, nocturnal, prairie
  animals
• Life expectancy is usually two to four years
• Pregnancy lasts 16 to 17 days

5
Description

• Two hamsters were used for the project
• Siblings - Female
• Age- three weeks old
• Subject A - schedule involved interaction with
  humans on a regular basis
• Subject B - only interaction with humans was
  based on necessity

FOR MORE INFO...

• For a list of daily activities - See Exhibit A

6
Comparative Analysis
Subject A
Subject B

• Behavior Relationship Intelligence
• Size Activity level

7
Measurement

• A scale was used to measure weight
• Research was conducted to determine usual
  behavior expected from hamsters
• A log was kept to record changes or unusual
  behavior
• Different activities were recorded to determine
  intelligence

8
Procedures

• Two sister hamster were purchased at 3 weeks old
• The hamsters were separated immediately
• Each house contained food, water, exercise wheel,
  and a play toy
• Bedding consisted of shredded pine

9
Schedule

• Subject A received human interaction on a regular
  schedule
• Subject A exercise scheduled consisted of running
  around in a ball for 20 minutes three times each
  day
• Subject A received special treats - cheerios, dog
  biscuits

10
Schedule

• Subject B received attention only during house
  cleaning
• Subject B exercise scheduled consisted of running
  around in a ball for 20 minutes two times per
  week.
• Subject B did not receive additional food items

11
Schedule

• Each subject received the same amount per feeding
  
• Each subject received fresh water per day
• Each subjects house was cleaned twice a week -
  Wednesday and Saturday evenings

12
Weight Comparison Chart
Oz
13
Length Comparison Chart
CM
14
Comparing Behavior
15
Comparing Activity Level
16
Measuring Intelligence
Intelligence was measured on a scale
1-5. Example It took Subject B one day to learn
to use the potty house it took Subject A five
days to learn to use the potty house.
17
Comparative Results

• Based on the project - nurturing made a
  difference when comparing activities between
  Subject A and Subject B.
• Based on the project - nurturing did not affect
  size or intelligence, or relationship with other
  hamsters.

18
Exhibit A

• List of daily activities for Subject A.
• Being held
• Talking (human interaction)
• Running in a ball
• Eating (introduced a new snack each day)
• Sleeping 800 A.M - 700 P.M.

19
Exhibit A Continued

• List of daily activities for Subject B.
• Limited voice interaction
• Exercise on wheel only
• Exercise outside of cage twice/week
• Eating regular food only
• Sleeping 700 A.M - 1100 P.M.

20
Subject A and Subject B
Abbey
Rainey (in the ball)
21
The End

• By Joy G. Kerr