Enzymes Lab and Resources

Real World Scenario

Using Lactase from local Store

You can use real enzymes from your local store and engage your students with real world problems such as Lactose intolerance. You can purchase a galloon of milk-Lactose ($4) and a Lactase enzyme pill bottle from your local supermarket ($8 dollars).

Setup

Test tube #1- 2 mL Milk + 1 mL Enzyme
Test tube #2- 2 mL Milk + 1 mL Water
Test tube #3- 2 mL Sucrose + 1 mL Enzyme
Test tube #4- 2 mL Sucrose + 1 mL Water

Using either a glucose monitor from your local pharmacy or scientific glucose testing strips, you can determine if glucose is present or absent.

Students should determine that when lactase (carbohydrate biomolecule) is broken down by the enzyme Lactose, glucose is produced which will be converted into ATP in the mitochondria.

If you would like to check out the lab worksheet I used for this lesson, you can find it on my TPT Store.

Let’s use Toothpicks

Students will analyze the effects of temperature on enzymes by placing their hands on cold ice water to see the before and after effects of an enzyme breaking down a substrate (aka biomolecule).

Students will use their hands which will simulate an Enzyme.
Students will break toothpicks which will simulate substrates (biomolecules).

Ice Cold Water Bath

Students will place their hands inside an ice cold water bath for as long as they can hold.
(Tip: Set clear parameters on how much maximum time there hands should be inside the ice bath).
You will need to purchase a bag of ice for this lab or get some prior to the lab from the teachers lounge.

Students should be able to see how the hand (enzyme) will be less effective after being placed in ice cold temperature. The hand (enzyme) will be slower at breaking down the toothpicks (substrate-food-biomolecules).