NVSEF Project

If you want to send your queries to a real scientist, add them below in our "ASK A Scientist / Engineer Forum. The response usually takes 36- 48 hours and possibly as long as 72 hours to get a response from the time you submit. Please take a look at the response as it is posted below. Also you will have the opportunity to see the questions other teams have submitted and the responses that they have received.

For faster responses, please ask your teacher to use one of the AI tools such as ChatGPT. We have looked at hundreds of questions from the past and the AI responses can be helpful.

When writing your scientist/engineer, please remember the following:

Always communicate through the NVSEF forum. Never engage in requesting private emails or sending emails. This is not allowed and the scientific / engineering team will ignore your requests and notify your teacher about this breach of security.
Never give the name of anyone in your team. When communicating with the science and engineering team only use your school abbreviation and team number. For instance, AIS Riyadh Team #32 or WBAIS Team #4.
Do not ask for the science / engineering team to do your work for you. They will advise and help lead you to the answers that you are looking for.
Always use appropriate language when writing in this forum.

RULE OF THUMB: If you wouldn’t do or say something in real life, don’t do it online either.

Example of writing to the Scientist / Engineer

Question: Dear Scientist,

We are Group 2 from DAISK. We are doing an experiment on the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by the enzyme catalase. Yeast is often used as a source of the enzyme, however, for our experiment, we are trying to use the catalase found in carrots/potatoes. We have three questions: 1. how would you extract the enzyme from the carrot/potato? 2. Would powdered bleach be a viable source of hydrogen peroxide? and 3. Here is our current question/purpose: "What effects will a different approach of catalase inserted have on the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide?". How can we improve our question?

Thank you,

Team #2

Response:

You have an intriguing biochemistry investigation! In plants, catalase is primarily located in peroxisomes, cell organelles which are like lysosomes, but break down simpler molecules. Catalase is involved in decomposition of hydrogen peroxide generated during normal cellular processes, such as photorespiration and oxidation of fatty acids. Here is a link that explores catalase in potatoes more deeply: http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/activator/

In terms of photorespiration, you probably know that photosynthesis stores energy from the sun by making glucose. During photorespiration, the glucose is broken down often using an enzyme called glucose oxidase, the reaction is:

glucose + oxygen --> gluconic acid + hydrogen peroxide + energy (19Kcal/ mole)

A similar reaction occurs when fatty acids are oxidized. The catalase is a catalyst for the reaction in which the hydrogen peroxide is broken down: 2 Hydrogen peroxide --> Oxygen + 2 Water

Your question is adequate; now, formulate a hypothesis based upon what you know about yeast and H2O2. NOTE: Simply use sliced or pureed fresh potatoes (no need to extract the enzyme) and avoid the bleach Good luck, young biochemists!

ASK A SCIENTIST / ENGINEER 2024-25 (Responses)

Page updated

Report abuse