Caffeine and Lipids!!!!

[chriskelly123]

Hey hey - need some help guys!

I'm doing an experiment for my A2 coursework on the effect of caffeine on the hatching rate of brine shrimps. I have done the experiment and it reduces the time for the eggs/cysts to hatch - which corresponds with my research.

However, I need to explain WHY and HOW the caffeine speeds up the process... which is proving difficult. I have researched into the composition of the cysts and they seem to be made of lipids. I was thinking that the caffeine would do something to the cysts themselves to enhance the rate of hatching.

My question is..: How does caffeine affect the brine shrimp cysts?

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!!

Chris

[JackBean]

what if you thought first about its effect on humans and how it works and then tried to apply that to the shrimps (whether is it applicable)?

[chriskelly123]

yea i'll try that - ill get back to you to see if its similar.. thanks

[chriskelly123]

I went down the line of argument in the end that caffeine increases metabolic rate, which increases anabolism... which allows the shrimp to hatch quicker
if you're interested