Justification of Research Approach

In 1865 Gregor Mendel experimented with plant hybridization. The goal of the experiment was to show that the parental plants pass on certain characteristics to its offspring thus creating a hybrid species that posse the desired traits of the parental plants (Mendel, 1865).

The chosen research method utilized is based upon retracing Mendel's experimental procedures of plant hybridization in order to achieve a hybrid species of plant. The goal of the experiment is to create a hybrid species of plant that carries desired traits suitable for the needs of my design. Employing the pedigree method of breeding, this is when the desired traits are identified in the offspring and only those selected offspring will breed with each other, the desired traits of each tentative plant will be isolated. Then using the backcross method of breeding, this method locates the desired traits in the offspring and then will breed the offspring with its parental plant that also has the desired trait, the desired traits will become the dominant expressive trait (Ruiz, Romero., 1999). The quantitative results gathered will consist of multiple plants and their offspring tracking the desired traits through the utilization of backcross method of breeding to influence the fabrication of dominant expressive traits. This deductive experiment will provide a basis for the design due to its ability to yield a hybrid species of plant that will posses the desired traits.

The pros and cons of this experiment are contingent upon availability of space, weather human error and time allocation. Lack of space can affect the experiment due to the laboratory's inability to adequately house large number of subjects chosen for the experiment. The weather will play a key role in the plants development and can slow down or increase the growth rate of the plant. In addition, human error can inadevertently affect the breeding plants, thus resulting in pollination of the plants with the wrong parental plant or the plants may self pollinate and produce cloned offspring (Schoen, Lloyd., 1992). Lastly, time will be an issue for this experiment because of the number of generations of plants that will be able to be produced. This will alter the outcome of the results.

This experiment will establish that plants can combine to create hybrid species. Projecting advancement in this field of plant genetics will result in a plant structure that can be manipulated into a housing structure. Plants provide our planet and humans with resources that are invaluable to our survival. They feed us, clean our air, the clean and protect our soil. They are the basis for the majority of life on the planet.

The reasoning behind choosing Mendel’s experiment is Gregor Mendel was the first person to do these sorts of experiments. His discoveries have lead to what we know about genetic today. Modern techniques use such catalyst as radioactivity or chemicals to alter the genes of the plant. (Chahal, Gosal, 2002). This new way of design will take architecture into its next great design revolution. It will create a symbiotic relationship between nature and mankind that will benefit both equally.

Reference:

Mendel, G. (1865) Experiments in Plant Hybridization. Read at the meetings of February 8th, and March 8th, 1865

Ruiz, J. M., Romero, L. (1999) Nitrogen efficiency and metabolism in grafted melon plants. Scientia Horticulturae. 81: 113-123

Schoen, D. J., Lloyd, D. G. (1992) Self- and Cross-Fertilization in Plants. III. Methods for Studying Modes and Functional aspects of Self-Fertilization. International Journal of Plant Sciences. 153: 381-393

Chahal, G. S., Gosal, S. S. (2002) Principles and procedures of Plant Breeding, Alpha Science International