A study of fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2009, Volume 30

Janice M. Bonner

Abstract

This workshop, derived from an article in American Biology Teacher (Reinking, Reinking, and Miller, 1994) presents a simple method for investigating fermentation. In the basic reaction, a 7% yeast suspension is combined with a 1.0% glucose solution in fermentation tubes—conical centrifuge tubes in which the caps have small perforations. As CO2 is produced, the yeast-sugar solution leaves through the hole. At regular intervals, students mark off the fluid level in the fermentation tubes and measure the concentration of glucose with a diagnostic test strip. A small amount of data manipulation is necessary to obtain the volume of CO2 produced by fermentation. The basic reaction can be carried out within 15 minutes.

Keywords:  enzyme, yeast, fermentation

University of Toronto, Mississauga (2008)