Words: 390
Four AP Biology lasses performed this experiment and the data presented in this report will reflect the averages of said classes. In the later discussion sections, it will become very obvious that human error was the deciding factor in the data collection. Introduction Enzymes are biological catalysts that carry out thousands of chemical reactions that occur in living cells. Generally large proteins, enzymes are made up of several hundred amino acids, and often contain a non-procrastinate group essential in the actual catalyst. When an enzyme can on longer function at all, it is said to be denatured.
There re several factors that contribute to the denaturing of the enzyme that also determine the enzyme’s shape. These factors are very closely regulated in both living organisms and in laboratory environments, so as to achieve optimum enzyme activity. Temperature of the enzymatic reaction or enzyme itself will help in dictating the activity rate of the function. Likewise is true of the enzymatic reaction’s PH. The other factors include the Substrate Concentration (a substrate is the substance being acted upon) and Enzyme Concentration.
The AP Biology classes performed this study, to examine the effects of changes n the optimum conditions for enzyme activity. Procedure A disc of filter paper was immersed into the enzyme solution for about 15 seconds. Then it was removed from the solution and blotted on a paper towel for 5 seconds. Next the disc was placed in a beaker filled with the hydrogen peroxide substrate and allowed to sink to the bottom of the beaker. The instant the disc hit the bottom, a timer was started. The time measured was that from the time the disc reached the bottom of the beaker until it touched the surface of the hydrogen peroxide.
Also, if the temperature or pH is too high or too low, then the enzyme will denature and be worthless to the organism or experiment. Discussion The primary class, AAA, found that our results differed greatly from the other classes. Not to sound presumptuous, however the only valid explanation for the differences is human error in carrying out the given procedures. Whether the timing was off or the instructions were just not followed, the fact still remains that certain classes did not get good data for this experiment.