Testing for Biological Molecules (CIE A Level Biology)

A group of students wanted to test a food sample to measure the concentration of reducing sugars.

They began their investigation by testing a series of samples of known glucose concentration using a colorimeter. Their results are shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1

Explain why the students began their investigation in this way.

Calculate the percentage change in absorbance as the glucose concentration increases from 1.0 mmol dm^-3 to 6.0 mmol dm^-3. Give your answer to three significant figures. 

Use the data in Table 1 to plot a graph of glucose concentration against absorbance.

Describe three measures that the students should take to ensure that their results are valid.

The effect of storage on the sugar content of winter squash fruits was studied. The results are shown in Fig. 1 below. Note that the error bars show standard deviation.

Fig. 1

Suggest how the squash may have been tested to assess sugar content.

Describe the effect of storage time on squash sugar content shown in Fig. 1.

Suggest an explanation for the results observed in part (b).

Fig. 2 shows another set of data gathered during the investigation into the effect of storage time on squash biochemistry.

Fig. 2

The researchers concluded from this data that winter squash would become more appealing to consumers over time.

Discuss this conclusion.

The enzyme amylase breaks down starch to form the reducing sugar maltose. Iodine solution can be used to measure the progress of this enzyme-controlled reaction during a practical investigation.

Explain how iodine solution can be used to measure the rate of this enzyme-controlled reaction.

After all the starch was broken down into maltose by amylase, the enzyme maltase was added to the solution. A sample (sample 1) was taken from the solution immediately after the maltase was mixed with the solution. The remaining solution (sample 2) was incubated at 37 °C for an hour.

Describe a chemical test you could carry out to show that maltose is a reducing sugar.

The chemical test in part (b) was carried out on both samples 1 and 2. All experimental variables were kept the same when testing both of the samples. Both tubes were left for 15 minutes to allow the precipitate to settle.

State and explain how the result of sample 2 would differ from sample 1.

Explain why iodine solution would not be a suitable reagent to use when testing for biological molecules present in extracts from animal cells.

Triglycerides are the main form of dietary lipids ingested by humans. They are digested by the enzyme lipase in the stomach.

Describe a biochemical test that could be performed to determine whether a sample of food contains triglycerides.

Using your knowledge of the structure of triglycerides, explain the visual result of a positive test for the presence of lipids.

Seeds are a good source of lipids. They also contain starch which serve as a food source for the growing plant embryo during germination.

Outline the biological test that can be used to confirm the presence of starch.

Scientists wanted to test the nutritional content of a new meal replacement shake under development. Table 1 shows some of the results that were gathered by the scientists.

Table 1

Complete the table by identifying the test reagents used in each case.

Describe the procedure the scientists would have followed to test for the presence of protein and state the meaning of the results that they obtained.

Discuss the results that were obtained by the scientists when they were testing for the presence of carbohydrates.

While testing for the presence of sucrose, the scientists accidentally left out the sodium hydroxide after adding the hydrochloric acid to the solution.

Explain how this could have affected their results.