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Half an hour after an adult person completed eating a protein-rich meal, a sample was taken of the contents of their stomach - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2012 - Paper 1
Question 5
Half an hour after an adult person completed eating a protein-rich meal, a sample was taken of the contents of their stomach. This sample was divided into three equa... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Half an hour after an adult person completed eating a protein-rich meal, a sample was taken of the contents of their stomach - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2012 - Paper 1
Step 1
a. On the graph above, draw the results you would expect for the samples incubated at 10 °C and 80 °C.
Answer
To draw the expected results, we analyze the effects of temperature on polypeptide concentration. At 10 °C, we would expect the concentration to be lower than that at 37 °C due to slower reaction rates, possibly represented by a mark lower than 20 arbitrary units. For the sample incubated at 80 °C, we predict an even lower concentration than at 37 °C, since the high temperature may denature the enzymes involved in the reaction, leading to minimal activity and potentially a mark significantly below the 10 °C level. The graph may show a curve decreasing from 37 °C to both ends, indicating reduced enzyme activity at both extremes.
Step 2
b. Explain your predicted results for the polypeptide concentrations at temperatures of 10 °C and 80 °C.
Answer
10 °C: The reaction rate at this lower temperature is expected to be slower than at 37 °C. Fewer interactions between enzymes and substrates would lead to a lower concentration of polypeptide products.
80 °C: At this elevated temperature, the polypeptide synthesis likely decreases as the enzyme can become denatured, losing its functional shape and activity. This would result in a much lower concentration compared to both 10 °C and 37 °C, as the enzyme effectively stops contributing to the reaction.