Qualitative Data vs Quantitative Data of enzyme action

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rootone
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2015 10:35 pm
Occupation: Student: 12th grade
Project Question: Using different enzymes in laundry detergents:
Right now cysteine protease is not used in laundry detergents because they oxidize with bleaching agents. However, serine protease does not.
Project Due Date: Feb. 22, 2015
Project Status: I am conducting my research

Qualitative Data vs Quantitative Data of enzyme action

Post by rootone »

Hi!
I've already performed an experiment testing the effectiveness of a cysteine protease in the presence of different detergent ingredients (builders, surfactants ect.)
I placed emulsified film strips into different solutions, where the gelatin was broken down and washed off from the film strips at varying degrees. Thus, the film strips each have varying amounts of silver halides (little black dots) still stuck onto them. I want to show that the detergent ingredients did not inhibit the enzyme's ability to break down the gelatin (most of the saliver halide washed off in all cases), except I'm not sure how to present my data.

Is there a way to measure the film strip colour? Opacity? Or would qualitative data be fine (where I describe the reactions)?
Would there be any other way I could quantify my data? Or present it?

Thanks!
SciB
Expert
Posts: 2071
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:00 am
Occupation: Retired molecular biologist, university researcher and teacher
Project Question: I wish to join Scibuddies to be able to help students achieve the best science project possible and to understand the science behind it.
Project Due Date: n/a
Project Status: Not applicable

Re: Qualitative Data vs Quantitative Data of enzyme action

Post by SciB »

Hi,

There is a way to measure the density of a film negative and that is by using the light sensor in the camera on the front of a smart phone. There's an app for this. If your phone is an android here's the URL: https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... raph&hl=en

If you have an iphone then check the itunes store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/luxmete ... 69821?mt=8

To use the meter for measuring density, open the app and place the phone face up under a lamp. The phone sensor does not have to be that close to the light as long as you get a reading of about 1000 lux. The light reading fluctuates a lot so try to use an app that gives you an average reading of light intensity in lux. To measure the density of a film all you have to do is place it over the camera lens on the front of your phone and record the new reading. The denser the film, the greater the reduction in lux. If your films are really dense you will have to use a more intense light source.

Let me know if this works for you.

Sybee
rootone
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2015 10:35 pm
Occupation: Student: 12th grade
Project Question: Using different enzymes in laundry detergents:
Right now cysteine protease is not used in laundry detergents because they oxidize with bleaching agents. However, serine protease does not.
Project Due Date: Feb. 22, 2015
Project Status: I am conducting my research

Re: Qualitative Data vs Quantitative Data of enzyme action

Post by rootone »

Hey Sybee!
Thank you so much -- I'll definitely give it a try :)
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