Assignment: Effect of Alcohol on Biological Membranes
PART A: Data Collection
1. Fill in absorbance data in data table.
Data Table
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Absorbance
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Well
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Alcohol % (v/v)
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Methanol
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Ethanol
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1-Propanol
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1
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0
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2
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10
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3
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20
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4
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30
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5
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40
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PART B: Questions
1. At the lowest concentration, which alcohol did the most damage? What is the evidence for your answer?
a. Methanol
b. Ethanol
c. Propanol
2. At what percentage of alcohol is the cellular damage highest? What is the evidence for your answer?
a. Methanol
b. Ethanol
c. Propanol
3. Which of the three alcohols seems to affect membranes the most? How did you come to this conclusion?
a. Methanol
b. Ethanol
c. Propanol
4. Are your data consistent with the consensus explanation for the effect on membrane permeability based on C-length in short chain hydrocarbons? Explain.
PART C: Scientific Writing - HYPOTHESIS, RESULTS, AND DISCUSSION SECTION
Refer to the Template and Guidelines for Writing a Formal Lab Report. This section must be typed and attached to the Lab Results Page.
I. Write a HYPOTHESIS for this lab.
II. Complete the RESULTS SECTION of the Formal Lab Report. Be sure to include the following:
1. Use either Excel if your computer uses Windows, or Pages/Numbers if your computer uses Mac operating systems, to create a line graph of the absorbance data. Correctly label the x-axis (independent variable = student, non-distracted, distracted) and y-axis (dependent variable, reaction time, including units).
2. Write a figure legend for the Reaction Time chart (refer to the chart as Figure 1). The figure legend provides a brief explanation for what the chart represents.
3. Write a well-constructed paragraph of the outcomes of the experiment. Refer to and further clarify the figure in this paragraph. Remember, the results section should NOT include author interpretation or analysis, only a detailed presentation of the data.
III. Write a DISCUSSION in the style indicated in the Formal Lab Report guidelines. Be sure to indicate in your discussion if your hypothesis was accepted or rejected. Also include the analysis of your results. What do the results mean? Is it what you expected? Hint: Use the questions in Part B to guide your discussion.