Y12 Practicals Flashcards
RP1: Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
Give examples of variables that could affect the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
- enzyme concentration
- substrate concentration
- temperature of solution
- pH of solution
- inhibitor concentration
RP1: Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
Describe how temperature can be controlled
- Use a thermostatically controlled water bath
- Monitor using a thermometer at regular intervals and add hot/cold water if temperature fluctuates
RP1: Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
Describe how pH can be controlled
- use a buffer solution
- monitor using a pH meter at regular intervals
RP1: Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
Why were the enzyme and substrate solutions left in the water bath for 10 mins before mixing?
So solutions equilibrate/reach the temperature of the water bath
RP1: Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
Describe a control experiment
- use denatured enzymes (e.g by boiling)
- everything else same as experiment, same temp, conc/volume of substrate and enzyme, type/volume of buffer solution
RP1: Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
Describe how the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction can be measured
- measure time taken for reaction to reach a set point, e.g conc/volume/mass/colour of substrate/product
> rate of reaction = 1/time - measure concentration/volume/mass/colour of substrate/product as regular intervals throughout reaction
> plot on a graph with time on x axis and whatever is being measured on y axis
> draw a tangent at t=0
> initial rate of reaction = change in y / change in x
RP1: Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
Suggest a safety risk and explain how to reduce this risk
- handling enzymes may cause an allergic reaction
- avoid contact with skin by wearing gloves and eye protection
RP1: Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
Explain why using a colorimeter to measure colour change is better then comparison to colour standards
- not subjective
- more accurate
- gives a quantitative measurement
RP1: Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
Explain a procedure that could be used to stop each reaction
- boil/add strong acid/alkali —> denature enzyme
- put in ice —> lower kinetic energy so no E/S complexes form
- add high concentration of inhibitor —> so no E/S complexes form
RP1: Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
Explain why the rate of reaction decreases over time throughout each experiment
- initial rate is highest as substrate concentration not limiting/many E/S complexes form
- reaction slows as substrate used up and often stops as there is no substrate left
RP2: Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; set-up and use of an optical microscope to identify stages of mitosis in the stained squashes and calculation of a mitosis index
Describe how to prepare squashes of cells from plant root tips
- Cut a thin slice of root tip (about 5mm from end) using scalpel and mount onto a slide
- Soak root tip in hydrochloric acid then rinse
- Stain for DNA, e.g with toluiodine blue
- Lower coverslip using mounted needle at 45º angle without trapping air bubbles
- Squash by firmly pressing down on glass slip but do not push sideways
RP2: Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; set-up and use of an optical microscope to identify stages of mitosis in the stained squashes and calculation of a mitosis index
Why are root tips used?
Where dividing cells are found/mitosis occurs
RP2: Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; set-up and use of an optical microscope to identify stages of mitosis in the stained squashes and calculation of a mitosis index
Why is a stain used?
- to distinguish chromosomes
- chromosomes not visible without stain
RP2: Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; set-up and use of an optical microscope to identify stages of mitosis in the stained squashes and calculation of a mitosis index
Why squash/press down on cover slip?
- spreads out cells to create a single layer of cells
- so light passes though to make chromosomes visible
RP2: Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; set-up and use of an optical microscope to identify stages of mitosis in the stained squashes and calculation of a mitosis index
Why not push coverslip sideways?
- avoid rolling cells together/breaking chromosomes
RP2: Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; set-up and use of an optical microscope to identify stages of mitosis in the stained squashes and calculation of a mitosis index
Why soak roots in acid?
- seperate cells/cell walls
- to allow stain to diffuse into cells
- to allow cells to be more easily squashed
- to stop mitosis
RP2: Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; set-up and use of an optical microscope to identify stages of mitosis in the stained squashes and calculation of a mitosis index
Describe how to set-up and use an optical microscope
- clip slide onto stage and turn on light
- select lowest power objective lens
- a) use coarse focusing dial to move stage close to lens
b) turn coarse focusing dials to move stage away from lens until image comes into focus - adjust fine focusing dial to get clear image
- swap to higher power objective lens, then refocus
RP2: Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; set-up and use of an optical microscope to identify stages of mitosis in the stained squashes and calculation of a mitosis index
What are the rules of a scientific drawing?
- look similar to specimen/image
- no sketching/shading —> only clear continuous lines
- include a magnification scale
- label with straight, uncrossed lines
RP2: Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; set-up and use of an optical microscope to identify stages of mitosis in the stained squashes and calculation of a mitosis index
Explain how the stages of mitosis can be identified
Interphase = chromosomes not visible but nuclei are
Prophase:
- chromosomes visible/distinct —> because condensing
- but randomly arranged —> because no spindle activity/not attached to spindle fibre
Metaphase:
- chromosomes lined up along equator —> because attaching to spindle
Anaphase:
- chromatids at poles of spindle
- chromatids V shapes —> because being pulled apart at their centromeres by spindle fibres
Telophase:
- chromosomes in 2 sets, one at each pole
RP2: Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; set-up and use of an optical microscope to identify stages of mitosis in the stained squashes and calculation of a mitosis index
What is a mitosis index?
- proportion of cells undergoing mitosis (with visible chromosomes)
- mitotic index = number of cells undergoing mitosis/total number of cells in sample