Warning! This was an ambitious lab to do with a general Biology class. The Biology Co-op Class completed this Catalase Activity in Immobilised Yeast, a UK web site. The kids created yeast ‘pearls’ and tested the pearls in hydrogen peroxide solutions. It went pretty well. I made up sodium alginate and calcium lactate solutions in advance using this brand. We used ordinary baker’s yeast and fresh solutions of hydrogen peroxide (3%). The kids diluted the hydrogen peroxide and times how long for the yeast pearls to rise. I had the kids enter their data into a Google sheet—just to review how to enter data and insert formulas. Next time, we will discuss enzymes with this slideshow and this Scientific American article. Yeast cells have peroxisomes. I’m using this slideshow about peroxisomes for class. Here is the bottom line. Yeast cells have Peroxisome, which have catalase, an enzyme, which is a protein. Enzymes catalyze chemical reactions, in this case, the decomposition of H2O2. There is a great deal of science to discuss on Thursday. Whew. Take a look at the lab pix.
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