Question

A scientific study looked at the effect of tanning beds on DNA damage. The scientists took skin cells and exposed them to UV radiation (the type used in indoor tanning beds) for different lengths of time: some for 1 minute, some for 5 minutes, some for 15 minutes, and some for 30 minutes. They then looked for signs of DNA damage and compared the results to cells that had never been exposed to UV light. What is the independent variable in this experiment

Answer 1

The independent variable in this experiment is the amount of time the skin cells were exposed to UV radiation. While UV-A radiation from tanning beds is considered 'safe' compared to UV-B, prolonged exposure can still cause DNA damage and increase the risk of cancer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The independent variable in the experiment is the length of time that the skin cells were exposed to UV radiation from tanning beds. This is what the scientists deliberately changed to observe what effect different durations of UV exposure would have on DNA damage in skin cells. They compared cells exposed for 1, 5, 15, and 30 minutes to cells not exposed to UV radiation at all.

It is important to note that the 'safe' UV radiation used in tanning salons is UV-A light, which has a longer wavelength than the more damaging UV-B radiation found in natural sunlight. Although it's branded as 'safe,' UV-A has enough photon energy to trigger the tanning mechanism in the skin, which is a defense mechanism. However, with prolonged exposure, UV-A radiation can still lead to cell damage and has the potential to induce cancer, as established by the World Health Organization's classification of UV radiation as a Group 1 carcinogen.

Answer 2

Tanning of DNA using UV light at different time (1 minutes, 15 minutes, and 30 minutes)

Step-by-step explanation:

Independent variable is the variable that was controlled or change and in this case it is the tanning of DNA with UV light at different times and the dependent variable is what is measured or the effect of the change in the independent variable which is DNA damage and the control was the cells that did not receive the treatment.