Core Biology Class Studies Yeast Respiration Rates

Mrs. Bastone's students in Core Biology are using the Labquest2 tablets and carbon dioxide probes to measure the respiration rate of yeast suspensions, They will be comparing the rates using 10% solutions of various sugars (maltose, lactose, sucrose and glucose). The probes and tablets have simplified the collection and analysis of data, enabling student to e-mail the graphs of their data home, however they are still getting error messages when they attempt to e-mail their data files home.

The students mixed 5 ml of a yeast suspension with 5 ml of a 10% sugar solution in the reaction bottle. They then insert the carbon dioxide probe which will measure the amount of carbon dioxide gas in the bottle every 5 seconds for a 10 minute period of time.

Once the students have completed their data collection, the tablet can analyze their data by drawing the best fit line.

This lab group has activated the WiFi feature which delivers the graph being produced from the data collected by the probe simultaneously to their mobile devices.

The tablet is graphing the data collected with the carbon dioxide produced in parts per million over time. The linear regression analysis when data collection is completed will identify the slope of the resulting line. The slope will give the students the respiration rate for the yeast suspension.