The topics listed here are intended to pique your interest and suggest the kinds of questions that lend themselves to short term investigations of the kind expected for this laboratory exercise.
These topics are not intended to be recommendations for specific investigative labs. Furthermore, they are by no means all-inclusive as to the types of investigations that can be performed, nor do they suggest the means by which the investigations can be performed. Do not limit yourself to the topics which are listed here. In fact, I would hope that after reading these you would come up with some other ideas of your own. You should check this site frequently because I will add or alter suggestions as I see successful student investigations.

When you have come up with a topic which you find interesting and which seems to be one that you can reasonably work on, you should list some questions that are testable, propose one or more hypotheses and put together a protocol for how you would design and perform an investigation. Then you will submit this to me for approval and for suggestions. Consult your Lab Manual and Course Guide for further directions.
 

Human heart rate and/or blood pressure

1. Does caffeine have any effect on heart rate and/or blood pressure?
2. Does body weight play any role on the effects of caffeine?
3. How long do the effects of caffeine last?
4. Is there a difference in the effects of caffeinated vs. decaffeinated coffee or soda on heart rate and/or blood pressure?
5. Does meditation have any measurable effect on heart rate and blood pressure?
6. Do any of these have an effect on heart rate or blood pressure? Reading aloud; speaking, singing, watching TV, pets, laughter, etc.
7. Do herbs, such as peppermint or lavender, or others, have any effect on heart rate or blood pressure?

Human body temperature

8. Does caffeine increase body temperature and rates of sweating?
9. Does body temperature increase, or decrease, after eating?
10. Does cayenne pepper in the diet have an effect on body temperature and possible weight loss?
11. Is there a genetic influence on average body temperature? Do closely related people have a more similar body temperature than do non-related people?
12. Is 98.6^oF actually the average body temperature of humans?
13. Do the phases of the moon have an effect on body temperature?

Animal Behavior

14. Do squirrels collect more food from open spaces or from areas that are protected by foliage?
15. What attracts bees or (the dreaded) yellow jacket to food sources? Is it sight or smell?

Yeasts/Molds

16. What is the effect of temperature on growth of yeast? (Recall the technique used in the ELI Biology 101 course for measuring yeast growth.)
17. What are the effects of acids and bases, as found in common household chemicals, on the catalase enzyme found in yeast?
18. What is the effect of temperature on the growth of molds?
19. What kind of breads mold most rapidly and what environmental factors are required for growth?

Preservation/Ripening

20. What is the effect of fruits and/or vegetables on the ripening of bananas?
21. Which are the best food packagings that you can use in your kitchen for preventing dehydrating and over-ripening of fruits and vegetables? 
22. What preservation methods extend the life of fresh cut flowers?

Biological Rhythms - an extension of your Lab 5 Exercise

23. Are there biological rhythms involved in motor skills, reaction times, heart rate, time perception, math skills, etc.?
24. Can a biological rhythm be affected by environmental changes?

Other

25. Do vitamins enhance growth of fingernails? How about gelatin?

Plants

26. Seed germination, plant rooting, plant growth, etc. lend themselves to so many different investigations that I have not listed any here. Please contact me with questions or ideas.