Green Beans, The Wonderful Fruit

The Effect of Variation on a Green Bean/ Snow Pea

By: Katie Milo
Darwin studied the variation of a species. It is said that a species must need variation to survive.
In this lab, we study the variation of green bean/snow pea size and mass and compare the
differences in the species' population. If the green bean/snow pea shows variation in size, mass,
and volume, then the population will have a higher chance of survival (survival of the fittest/
natural selection). The procedure of the lab includes measuring the length, weight, and volume
of six green beans and six snow peas. Our results showed many different sightings of
size/mass/volume difference. We concluded that the variation does help with sustaining the
population.
Materials and Equipment:
1. Calculator
2. Balance
3. Beakers, 250 mL
4. Graduated Cylinder, 150 mL
5. Forceps
6. 6 Green Beans
7. 6 Snow Peas
8. Metric Ruler
9. String
Procedure:
Size:
1. Create a table #1 and have three columns and six rows (not including space for titles). Use this
table to record the green bean number, length, and your calculations.
2. Measure the length (mm) of the green bean using the ruler. If the green bean is very curvy, use
the string to guide the shape of the bean, then place the string on the ruler to find the length.
3. Record your results.
4. Find the average length of your sample and place it under the table.
5. Create a table #2 and have it set up the same as table #1; but, you need to have it labelled for
snow peas.
6. Measure the length (mm) of the snow pea using the ruler.
7. Record your results.
8. Find the average length of your sample and place it under the table.

Mass:

1. Create a table #3 and have three columns and six rows (not including space for titles). Use this
table to record the green bean number, mass, and your calculations.
2. Use the balance to measure the green bean. **Make sure to press the "zero" button each time
after you measure something***
3. Record your results.
4. Find the average mass of your sample and place it under the table.
5. create a table #4 and have it set up the same as table #3; but, you need to have it labelled for
snow peas.
6. Use the balance to measure (g) the snow pea. **Make sure to press the "zero" button each
time after you measure something***
7. Record your results.
8. Find the average mass of your sample and place it under the table.
Volume:
1. Create a table #5 and have three columns and six rows (not including space for titles). Use this
table to record the green bean number, volume, and your calculations.
2. Use the graduated cylinder and measure out 90 mL of water.
3. Drop the green bean in the graduated cylinder and subtract the final volume from 90 to get the
volume (cm^3) of the green bean.
4. To fetch the green bean, you can use the forceps to grab it or you can pour it into the beaker,
grab the bean, and put the water back into the graduated cylinder.
5. Record the results.
6. Find the average volume of your sample and place it under the table.
7. Create a table #6 and have it set up the same as table #5; but, you need to have it labelled for
snow peas.
8. Use the graduated cylinder and measure out 90 mL of water.
9. Drop the snow pea in the graduated cylinder and subtract the final volume from 90 to get the
volume (cm^3) of the snow pea.
10. To fetch the snow pea, you can use the forceps to grab it or you can pour it into the beaker,
grab the pea, and put the water back into the graduated cylinder.
11. Record your results.
12. Find the average volume of your sample and place it under the table.
Data Analysis:
The range of length variation for the green beans was 40 mm. The range of length variation for
the snow peas was 30 mm. Our average green bean length of 129 mm was very close to the class
average length of 121.6 mm, but still not the same. This is because the wide variation of sizes in
the class affects the average, especially when there is outliers. The volume of our sample's green
bean average was 5 cm^3. The volume of the class' average green bean was 4.3 cm^3. There isn't
very much variation in the two data pieces. The volume of our sample's snow pea was 2.25 cm^3
and the class' average snow pea was 2.57 cm^3. There isn't much variation in the two pods here

either. The mass of our average green bean was 5.96 g. The mass of the class average green bean
was 5.25 g. The mass of our average snow pea was 3.17 g and the class average snow pea was
3.28 g. The change of our sample vs. the class sample was not enormous. Because of the outliers
in all of the volume, length, and mass variety in the species and population size, there is a slight
difference. One of the trends in the data is that the green beans tend to have higher averages and
measurements than snow peas.
Table #1
Green Bean Pod #
1
2
3
4
5
6

Length of our sample (mm)

125
105
135
145
145
124

Table #2
Snow Pea #
1
2
3
4
5
6

Length of our sample (mm)

95
72
87
95
102
92

Table #3
Green Bean Pod #
1
2
3
4
5
6

Mass of our sample (g)

6.77
6.94
5.05
3.40
8.20
5.42

Table #4
Snow Pea Pod #
1

Mass of our sample (g)

1.75

2
3
4
5
6

2.59
3.94
3.31
3.37
4.08

Table #5
Green Bean Pod #
1
2
3
4
5
6

Volume of our sample (cm^3)

6
3
4
4
8
5

Table #6
Green Bean Pod #
1
2
3
4
5
6

Volume of our sample (cm^3)

3
1.5
2
2
2
3

Group #

Average
Green Bean
Length
(mm)

Average
Green Bean
Mass
(g)

Average
Green Bean
Volume
(cm3)

Average
Snow Pea
Length
(mm)

Average
Snow Pea
Mass
(g)

Average
Snow Pea
Volume
(cm3)

129 mm

5.96 g

90.5 mm

3.17 g

2.25

Class
Average

121.6 mm

5.25 g

4.3 cm3

87.7 mm

3.28 g

2.57 cm3

Discussion and Conclusions:

The main purpose of this study was to explore the variation of a population of a species.
According to the tables expressed above, there was a lot of variety in our sample of green
beans/snow peas. However, the class averages were very similar to our sample average. The
class averages could be affected by the outliers (extreme variety) and population size. This is
very true that in the real environment that populations' survival is highly affected by its variety
(outliers) and how large or small the population size is. The outliers cause constant change in the
population growth and how it can live on with survival skills. The population size affects the
survival of the species from resource consumption, which brings us back to variation in a
species. The population of the species with the better traits, will most likely survive better in the
wild and get to the resources they need before the non-dominant trait population does. This is
also called survival of the fittest or natural selection. If there is variety in a species, the survival
and population of that species will vary in growth based off the traits inherited. Some
improvements for future study would include making sure that you keep the right number
assigned to each bean/ pod in order. Losing track of which pea/pod belongs to which data source
can cause a lot of misunderstanding. Another would be making sure you are using the right unit
of measurement. The measurement unit is important in order to get the right data and figure out
the right results. In conclusion, the green bean and snow pea's wide variety in population shows
that it can live in a stable way within the ecosystem.
Citations: none needed