Core Practical 18

• What happens when snails are touched between the eye buds?

  They retract into their shells quickly
• What is the innate response of snails to being touched?

  It is a response to perceived threat
• What is habituation in the context of snail behavior?

  Decreasing response to repeated benign stimuli
• What equipment is needed for the snail experiment?

  • Snail
  • Cotton wool bud
  • Distilled water
  • Chopping board
  • Stopwatch
• What is the first step in the method for the snail experiment?

  Dampen the cotton wool bud in distilled water
• How should the snail be touched in the experiment?

  Between the eye buds with the cotton wool bud
• How many times should the snail be touched in the experiment?

  A total of ten touches
• What should be plotted on the graph in the experiment?

  • Number of touches
  • Time to re-emerge from shell
• What is the purpose of using Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient?

  To determine correlation between two variables
• What happens to the time taken for the snail to re-emerge as touches increase?

  It decreases as the snail habituates
• Why do calcium channels in the presynaptic membrane become less responsive?

  To conserve resources on benign stimuli
• What ethical consideration is mentioned for the snail experiment?

  To treat the snails ethically and re-release them
• What are the risks and safety precautions in the experiment?

  • Biohazard: Use disinfectant; wash hands
  • Tripping: Keep bags/stools away from workspace
• What should be done in case of a biohazard risk?

  Seek assistance and wash hands
• What should be done in case of a tripping hazard?

  Seek appropriate medical assistance
• What is the nature of the response when snails are touched?

  It is a reflex action
• What does the experiment aim to observe in snails?

  The effect of repeated touches on response time