Experiment 1: Enzymes in Food

1. Substance vs. Starch Presence here:

2. What is the function of amylase? What does amylase do to starch?

3. What were your controls for this experiment? What did they prove

4. Which of the foods that you tested contained amylase? Which did not? What experimental evidence supports your claim?

5. There is another digestive enzyme other than salivary amylase that is secreted by the salivary glands. Conduct research to determine what this enzyme is called. What substrate does it act on? Where in the body does it become activated, and why?

6. Saliva does not contain amylase until babies are about two months old. How could this affect an infant's digestion? (Hint: babies typically do not eat cereal until about three months old.

7. Take a look around your house and identify household products that work by means of an enzyme. Name the products, and indicate how you know they work with an enzyme.

8. The stomach contains enzymes that aid in digestion, including proteases which digest proteins. Why don't these enzymes digest the stomach and small intestine, which are partially composed of protein?

Experiment 2: Effect of Temperature on Enzyme Activity using yeast and balloons.

1. Balloon Circumference vs. Temperature here:

2. What reaction is being catalyzed in this experiment?

3. What is the enzyme in this experiment? What is the substrate?

4. What is the independent variable in this experiment? What is the dependent variable?

5. How does temperature affect enzyme function? Use evidence from your data to support your answer.

6. Draw or describe a graph of balloon diameter vs. temperature. What is the correlation?

7. Is there a negative control in this experiment? If yes, identify the control. If no, suggest how you could revise the experiment to include a negative control.

8. In general, how would an increase in substrate alter enzyme activity? Draw or describe a graph to illustrate this relationship.

9. Design an experiment to determine the optimal temperature for enzyme function, complete with controls. Where would you find the enzymes for this experiment? What substrate would you use?