Biomarkers & TEX86 Lab

Question 1

Biomarker

Answer 1

Compounds with a distinctive chemical structure that can be related to a specific organism.

Question 2

What makes a good Biomarker?

Answer 2

1. Can be Measured
2. Specific to Source, Taxa, or Function
3. Preserved with Limited or Predictable modification over timescale

Question 3

Examples of Biomarkers

Answer 3

Typically Lipids !!
(e.g Pigments, Core Lipids)

Question 4

Mass Spectrometry

Answer 4

Analysis of Biomarkers —> Quantify and Identify Molecules in Sample

Question 5

Retention Time

Answer 5

Time it takes compound to pass through column/compound comes off column

Question 6

M/Z

Answer 6

Mass to Charge Ratio; determines molecular mass

Question 7

Intensity

Answer 7

Amount of Compound there is; Relative Abundance

Question 8

Calculating M/Z

Answer 8

(# of element * # of daltons in element) + . . .

Question 9

Calculating TEX86

Answer 9

(IV + V + VI) / (III + IV + V + VI)

(all of each)

Question 10

Calculating Concentration when given Calibration Curve

Answer 10

Solve for x ! (Set y = area of specific GDGT lipid)

x = concentration of specific lipid in ng/micro L

Question 11

Calculating SST

Answer 11

TEX86 = 0.015(c) + 0.27

c = TEX86 - 0.27 / 0.015

c = SST

Question 12

What do Core or Intact lipids tell you about temperature?

Answer 12

Intact lipids tell you what temperature is currently whole core lipids tell you what temperature used to be.