This lab is designed for an introductory biology course. It is the first lab that many students do in their scientific
career. This activity, on its surface, gives students an opportunity to learn how to design thoughtful
experiments. At the same time, the overarching purpose of this lab includes fostering an appreciation for the
place of uncertainty in scientific research, using reflection and self-critique to grow as a scientist, and beginning
to think of a science lab as an intellectual playground. The science of this lab draws on the new generation of
environmentally friendly ?green? laundry detergents that contain various enzymes including proteases and
amylases. Students are given unknown enzymes (that are either a protease or amylase), known proteases and
known amylases, and diagnostic assays with a simple goal of designing a group of experiments to confidently
identify the unknown enzyme.
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