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 Final Applied Lab Project (1 credit Lab Component)

 Addresses course outcomes 1-4:

• recognize and explain how the scientific method is used to solve problems
• make observations and discriminate between scientific and pseudoscientific explanations
• weigh evidence and make decisions based on strengths and limitations of scientific knowledge and the scientific method
• use knowledge of biological principles, the scientific method, and appropriate technologies to ask relevant questions, develop hypotheses, design and conduct experiments, interpret results, and draw conclusions

This is the culminating lab assessment in BIOL 103. It is designed to assess your ability to apply the principles of the scientific method.

The Effect of low pH on Enzyme Activity

 

Design an experiment in which you will test the effect of an acidic fluid on enzymatic activity. (Recall: enzymes are proteins.) To complete this project, it may be useful for you to review the Scientific Method Tutorial (found the Course Content section of the classroom under the Science Learning Center link) and the Scientific Method lab (Lab 1), so that you can better understand how to design an experiment.  It may also be helpful for you to review information about pH, acids and bases and enzymes in the OLI modules, and Lab 4 (Enzymes).  As you review Lab 4, you will be reminded that there are several factors that impact enzymatic activity: pH, temperature, and amount of enzyme and substrate.  Feel free to refer to observations and information from Lab 4 as you complete the Final Applied Project (see the questions below). Or in other words, it is OK to use the same enzyme/subtrate/method as you did in lab 4 (but modify the treatment), or you can search on-line to find a different enzyme/subtrate/method for measuring enzyme activity. 

 

As you design your experiment for this project, please remember that you are trying to examine how an acidic fluid will modify the outcome of an enzymatic reaction.  To successfully complete this project, you will need to identify the question(s) being asked in your experiment and the hypothesis that you are testing.  In your experimental design, you must clearly explain what you are doing. That means that you will need to identify the enzyme and the acid, as well as explain your experimental protocol (this information will help you to answer question 2).  You must also thoroughly explain how the addition of the acidic fluid impacted the overall reaction process (this information will help you to answer question 4).

 

Hint: Keep in mind that the acid will change the environmental conditions of the experiment (for example, a low pH value could change the shape of the active site on the enzyme protein), without directly participating in the reaction.

Lab Materials

You may need all or some of the following, depending on your experimental design:

Materials from your lab kit:

• pH paper
• hydrogen peroxide solution (you can purchase this at a pharmacy if you have used up the bottle that came with the lab kit)
• plastic beakers or cups
• vinegar
• yeast (can be purchased at grocery store if you need more)
• balloons
• plastic bottle
• marker for labeling of beakers

You may choose to use additional materials (different acidic solutions and/or different organisms and/or differnet subtrate(s) if you chose to look at an enzyme other than catalase).

Outline

 (

5 points

) submit in assignment folder in week 6.

I suggest you include the following in your outline:

Name of enzyme you will use, and source (organism)

The substrate

How you will measure enzyme activity (method)

What type of treatment you will you; type of solution(s), pH, length of exposure, how you will treat your samples

The control(s) in the experiment

Sample size

Maybe how you plan to present your data (table and/or type of graph)

Anything else you would like to get feedback on before you start your experiment.

Write a paper that includes the following:

1. Title page: title, your name, course name, semester

2. 
Introduction: introduce your project, include needed background information, the question(s) that you are asking and a clear hypothesis for your experiment (

15 points

).

3. Design an experiment. Provide a detailed account of the materials and methods used to conduct the experiment. Also include the methods for data collection and analysis (2

0 point

s

).

4. Conduct the experiment and record your results. What did you observe? Present your data in table and/or graph (

20 points

). Remember to include the unit of measure.

5. Use your knowledge about enzymes and acids to interpret and discuss your results. It may be necessary for you to refer to your textbook and/or use other information resources. What effect does the acidic treatement have on the enzyme activity? Looking back, how could you have improved your experiment? (20 points)

6. What is your conclusion? Was your hypothesis supported? (

10 points

)

7. Cite all reference sources used (including text book) and provide a reference section with citations in APA format (5 points).

Submission

Submit your final applied lab project as an attached Word document in the assignment folder by the due date specified in the course schedule.  

Late Submission Policy: Zero points for late submission (a short extension may be granted if you contact me before the deadline).

Grading

Your Final Applied Lab Project will be graded based on the following criteria (100 points total):

 

 

Excellent	Good	Poor	Unacceptable
Outline5 points Due in week 7	Outline includes brief description of planned experiment that meets the assignment description. Submitted on time. 5 points	Outline includes brief description of planned experiment, but a few issues with content, relevance and/or organization. Submitted on time. 3-4 points	Outline includes brief description of planned experiment, but major issues with content, relevance and/or organization, and/or not submitted on time. 1-2 points	No outline submitted 0 points
Introduction, Question and Hypothesis  15 points	Accurate and specific introduction, question and hypothesis that is directly related to the experiment  12-15 points	Introduction, question, and/or hypothesis is somewhat vague or includes some mistakes, and/or not directly related to experiment 5-1 1 point s	Missing introduction, question and/or hypothesis, and/or very vague and/or not related to experiment. 1-4 point	Question and hypothesis missing  0 points
Experimental Design, Materials and Methods  20 points	Experiment is designed to directly test the hypothesis; description of experiment is detailed and well written and includes all materials and methods used.   18-20 points	Experiment is designed to directly test the hypothesis, but description is somewhat inaccurate and/or some information about materials and methods used is missing and/or minor problems with language and/or organization.  9-17 points	Experiment is not well designed to test the hypothesis, and/or most of the materials and methods used are not described well, and/or major problems with language and organization.  1-8 points	No description of experimental design, materials and methods used.  0 points
Results  20 points	Results are clearly and accurately presented in a table or graph format. 18-20 points	Results are presented, but minor problems with clarity and/or accuracy.  9-17 points	Results are described, but major problems with clarity and/or accuracy and/or results not presented in table or graph.  1-8 points	Results are not included.  0 points
Discussion of Results  20 points	A well written discussion of results that includes knowledge about enzymes learned from text book and course modules and/or web-sources and how experiment could have been improved.  18-20 points	Discussion of results and how experiment could have been improved has some minor problems with accuracy and/or organization and/or missing some information and/or not well connected to knowledge about enzymes learned from text book/course modules and/or web sources.    9-17 points	Discussion of results and how experiment could have been improved has some major problems with accuracy and/or organization and/or missing important information and/or not connected to knowledge about enzymes learned from text book/course modules and/or web-sources.    1-8 points	No discussion of results and no connection to knowledge about enzymes from text book and course modules.    0 points
Conclusion  10 points	A well stated conclusion that is accurate and specific and directly related to the data collected. Clearly stated whether or not the conclusion supports the hypothesis.  9-10 points	Conclusion stated, but slightly inaccurate and/or missing specific information, and/or not directly related to data collected.   4-8 points	Conclusion is vague, inaccurate and/or not directly related to the experiment and/or missing statement about whether or not conclusion is supported by hypothesis. 1-3 point	Missing conclusion     0 points
Citations  5 points	All references used are cited in correct APA format, in-text references are included.   5 points	All references are included, but a few minor mistakes in APA format, and/or missing in-text references. 3-4 points	Missing one or several references and/or several mistakes in APA format  1-2 point	No references are included  0 points
Grammar and Spelling  5 points	Less than 5 minorspelling and grammatical errors 5 points	Between 5 and 10 minor spelling and grammatical errors 3 points	Between 10 and 20 spelling and grammatical errors 1 point	More than 20 spelling and grammatical errors  0 point