Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello,

I am helping my daughter with this project. We’re not sure how many graphs we should have and how the data should be displayed.

“Graph your results. Make a bar graph and put the food names of the samples on the x-axis and the glucose concentration on the y-axis. Include both glucose readings for each sample (before adding invertase and at the linear time point).”

Are we making 2 different graphs? One before we added the invertase enzyme and another after we added it? If we are doing 2 graphs, we’re not sure about the one with the linear time point. Are we just displaying the data at 5 and 10 minute increments up until we reached the linear time point? If so, we’re not sure how that would look.


Thanks!

Moderator note: Project: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... metabolism

Weds., 22 Jan 2025

Hi,

Thanks for your question and I am glad you are helping your daughter to succeed in doing this useful experiment.

The simple answer is--one figure with two bars for each food. The x axis has the names of the foods and drinks that you tested, and the y axis is the % glucose that you measured with the test strip. You will have two bars for each sample. The first is the % glucose before adding the invertase and the second is after adding it and letting it react for the length of time that you determined in the earlier enzyme kinetics test.

Remember to do three separate tests for each food sample so that you can take the average and plot it. More readings equal more accuracy. Also, be certain to let the food samples come to room temperature before adding the enzyme because enzyme activity is slowed down by lower temperatures. An instant reading digital thermometer is helpful here, if you have one.

You seemed to be unsure about what the linear time point represents, so please reread the experimental protocol and look at figure 4 which shows the enzyme's activity with time. The linear time point (also called 'half-maximal time') is where the invertase is working optimally and that is the time you use for each sample in the food-test part of the experiment.

If you have more questions about this, I will be happy to help further so that you can understand completely what is going on.

Sybee

Thanks for getting back to me! I was unsure about plotting the linear time on the graph, Or adding it to the graph at all. Thanks

Thurs., 23 Jan 2025

You are welcome! Let me know if you need any further help.

Sybee