Life Science Choosing Topic, Objectives and Methods.pdf

1. Choosing Life Science Topics
Writing Objectives & Methods
Essential Procedures in Plant & Animal
Testing
Jay P. Picardal, Ph.D.
Professor II, Department of Biology
Director, Research Institute of Tropical Biology & Pharmacological
Biotechnology
Cebu Normal University, Cebu City
SIP-T Phase 2: Problem Scope, Methodologies and Special Topics

2. 1. CHOOSING LIFE SCIENCE TOPICS
• Memorandum circular from
DepEd on Science and
Technology Fair (current or
previous years)
• Look for the ‘themes’, as they
are considered priority
categories of research areas

3. 1. CHOOSING LIFE SCIENCE TOPICS
• Department of Science and Technology –
Harmonized National Research and
Development Agenda (DOST HNRDA)
• The DOST, in consultation with government and private
research and development institutions, the academe,
industry and other concerned agencies, prepared the
Harmonized National R&D Agenda (HNRDA) 2017-
2022 to ensure that results of S&T endeavors are
geared towards and are utilized in areas of
maximum economic and social benefit for the
people.
• The formulation of the HNRDA is in line with the
DOST’s mandate of providing central direction,
leadership and coordination of the scientific and
technological efforts in the country.

4. National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA)

6. Food and Nutrition Security
SAPAT Program (Saganang Pagkain Para sa Lahat)
1. Biodiversity studies
a. Biological Pollution
b. Biology and population dynamics of pests,
diseases, and natural enemies
c. Taxonomy of flora and fauna
d. Environmental scanning of physical marine
and terrestrial resources
(taxonomy, systematics, ecology)
e. Genetic analysis (biochemical, cytogenetics,
molecular)
f. Taxonomy of eco-friendly species (e.g.
arthropods and microorganisms) for Integrated
Pest Management
g. Exploring allelopathic potentials of
indigenous botanicals
b. Livestock and poultry diseases (epidemiological
studies, re-emerging and emerging diseases)
c. Diseases and pathogens of important crops
d. Identification and characterization of food/feed
contaminants
e. Epidemiology of food- and feed-borne contaminants
2. Food safety
a. Safety analysis of food supplements and
cosmeceuticals in the market

7. Priorities for 2017-2019
Basic research along two strands is SAPAT Program’s
priority in the next three years.
a. Taxonomy and systematics of flora and fauna for
food. Specific topics include genetic analysis,
morphological analysis and allelopathic analysis.
b. Safety analysis of cosmeceuticals and food
supplements. Specific topics include epidemiology,
microbiology, chemical analysis, cost-benefit and socio-
economic studies.
Priorities for 2020-2022
There will be the same priorities in 2020-2022, but
focus will be on:
a. Bio-ecology studies of flora and fauna for food
b. Safety analysis of raw and processed food products

8. Biological Pollution
Biological pollutants are
substances in our
environment which come
from living organisms and
can affect our health. They
include things such as
pollen from trees and
plants, insects or insect
parts, certain fungi, some
bacteria and viruses, and
even animal hair, animal
skin scales, saliva, and
urine. Not all of these
substances are harmful to
everyone who encounters
them.
In this paper, biological pollution is the introduction of non-indigenous and invasive species. When the
biological pollution is introduced to an aquatic environment, it contributes to water pollution

10. Biology and population dynamics of pests,
diseases, and natural enemies
“Perhaps it is time to refocus the attention of the research community toward the
development and application of known botanicals rather than to screen more
plants and isolate further novel bioactive substances that satisfy our curiosity but are
unlikely to be of much utility.”
(Pyrethrum, flowers from
Tanacetum cinerariifolium)
Limonene, the major constituent (>90% by weight) of
orange oil, is obtained by cold pressing orange skins,
ostensibly a byproduct of the citrus industry. Over the
past decade, this has been the botanical insecticide most
heavily used in California (averaging >20,000 kg per year)

11. Health Sufficiency
LIKAS Program (Likas Yaman sa Kalusugan)
1. Fundamental Studies on Potential Sources of Natural Products
a. Bioprospecting (e.g. marine organisms for biomedical use)
b. Bioinformatics
c. Characterization and structure elucidation of plants or foods/food
components
d. Pharmacogenomics and toxicogenomics
2. Basic Veterinary Studies
a. Economically important animal diseases and those transmitted to
humans
b. Characterization, isolation and bioassay of novel antimicrobial
compounds from indigenous sources and plant species
c. Herbal veterinary pharmacopeia
d. Identification and characterization of zoonotic diseases
3. Social Dimensions on Health
a. Filipino perceptions and concepts on health
b. Herbal and folkloric medicine
c. Models for good governance in health management

17. Allelopathy
COTTON SWAB METHOD
Agronomy 2020, 10, 163; doi:10.3390/agronomy10020163

18. PAGTANAW 2050 is a compendium of STI (Science,
Technology, and Innovation) megatrends, global and
national societal goals, transdisciplinary, and
interdisciplinary operational areas, and current and
emerging technologies relevant to the nation’s
development. This is firmly grounded in the Filipino people’s
aspirations within the context of the natural and physical
endowments as well as shared Filipino values and skills, and
other potentials.

19. BIG IDEA
1. CHOOSING LIFE SCIENCE TOPICS
Albularyo/ Mananambal
Elders in the community
Review papers
Databases of medicinal plants

20. 1. CHOOSING LIFE SCIENCE TOPICS - Reminders
Good, C. V., & Scates, D. E. (1954). Methods of research: educational,
psychological, sociological. Appleton-Century-Crofts.

22. 2. Writing the Objectives and Methods
Linear logic in scientific inquiry
Research
question
Specific research
objectives
*In experimental biology,
this is sometimes
supplemented with
hypotheses
Specific
methods that
would answer
the research
question
Types of data to
be collected
(nominal, ordinal,
interval, ratio,
etc.)
Preliminary
and final data
processing
Interpretation/
Writing of
results
Conclusion/
Recommend
-ation
1 1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3 3 3
Before you write the objectives of the study, let us have a short review of research’s linear logic

23. What verb to use in the ‘objectives’ section?

24. 2. Materials & Methods Section

25. 2. Materials & Methods Section
Major considerations in the M&M section Comments
variables or parameters to be measured and
evaluated or analyzed;
- Choice of the independent variables is valid, and
experimental constants should not be included as
independent variable
treatments to be used and their layout; - Observe 2 factor or multifactorial treatments, as they
may have implication on the statistical tool to be used
experimental procedures and design; - Experimental design is often misunderstood, ignoring
proper replication, randomization and sample sizes
statistical analysis; - Check assumptions that need to be met before using the
statistical test
evaluation method and observations to be made - Check and verify the experimental endpoints (i.e. are
they viable, robust)

27. SAMPLE MATERIALS
AND METHOD SECTION

28. SAMPLE NO. 1
CNU Publication

29. 29

30. 30

31. 31

32. 32

33. 33
SAMPLE NO. 2
Official Entry of Region 7 to NSTF 2022

34. 34

35. 35

36. 36

37. 37

38. 38

39. 39

40. ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS
TO SECURE BEFORE
EXPERIMENTATION
40

41. Institutional
Animal
Care &
Use
Committee
(USC, CDU,
CTU, soon CNU)

42. Institutional
Biosafety and
Biosecurity
Committee
Here are the types of researches that requires IBBC review: *
•Human or animal blood, body fluids or tissues and other potentially infectious
materials
•Any transgenic animal or plants
•Use of rDNA and other Genomic Editing Technologies (CRISPR Cas9)
•Any biological agent in Risk Group 2, 3, or 4
•Toxins (of biological origins)
•Vectors
(CDU, CTU)

43. 43
DENR Wildlife
Gratuitous Permit

44. Group Workshop
44
WORKSHOP 1: WRITING THE OBJECTIVES AND
METHODS SECTION
NAMES:
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
DATE: _______________
SDO: ________________
Instruction:
1. Recall / think of a less commonly known plant
in your locality that is known to possess an
important biological activity (e.g. antidiabetic,
wound-healing, anticancer, antiulcer, purgative,
antidiarrheal etc.)
2. Choose one biological activity.
3. Complete the table in the next page.
*Assume that this is still in the proposal stage.

45. Linear logic in scientific inquiry
Research
question
Specific
research
objectives
Propose
hypothesis
Types of data
to be collected
(nominal,
ordinal,
interval, ratio,
etc.)
Specific
methods that
would answer
the research
question
What is your
experimental
endpoints?
1 1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3 3 3
*You may use additional sheet if necessary. Cite your references.