Trypsin is a protease enzyme. A student compared the activity of trypsin from two different species: the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, and the domestic pig, Sus scrofa domesticus. [Figure 2.1] shows an Atlantic salmon and [Figure 2.2] shows domestic pigs. Atlantic salmon are fish and are ectothermic, which means that the internal body temperature fluctuates with the surrounding environmental temperature. The water temperature in the habitat of Atlantic salmon can decrease to -0.5°C. Domestic pigs are mammals and maintain an internal body temperature of approximately 38 °C. The student was provided with trypsin from Atlantic salmon, trypsin from domestic pigs and cubes of gelatine. Gelatine is made from the protein collagen. The student measured the time taken for the trypsin from each animal species to break down the gelatine cubes at 20°C. The student: • used 10cm³ of 5% trypsin solution from each animal species • placed each trypsin solution in separate test-tubes, maintained at 20 °C in a water-bath • placed a gelatine cube in each test-tube of trypsin solution • recorded the time taken to break down the gelatine cube in each test-tube. The student repeated this 12 times for each type of trypsin. The results of the experiment are shown in Table 2.1. Table 2.1 replicate | time taken to break down gelatine cube/seconds | Atlantic salmon | domestic pigs 1 | 125 | 130 2 | 121 | 127 3 | 128 | 134 4 | 119 | 128 5 | 132 | 135 6 | 125 | 130 7 | 131 | 132 8 | 127 | 128 9 | 126 | 128 10 | 131 | 137 11 | 131 | 133 12 | 129 | 131 mean | 127.1 | standard deviation (s) | 4.1 |
- (a)(i)Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable in this experiment. independent variable .......................................................................................................................... dependent variable ...............................................................................................................................[2]
- (a)(ii)The student standardised the temperature of the water-bath, the volume of the trypsin solution and the concentration of the trypsin solution. State one other variable that the student should standardise in this experiment.[1]
- (b)(i)Use the data in Table 2.1 to calculate the mean time taken for trypsin from domestic pigs to break down the gelatine cube. mean = ......................................................... seconds [1][1]
- (b)(ii)The formula for calculating standard deviation is: s = √Σ(x−x)² / n-1 Key to symbols x = observation x̅ = mean n = sample size (number of observations) The student calculated ∑(x − x)² as 110.92 for the domestic pigs. Use the calculated value of ∑(x – x)² and the data in Table 2.1 to complete the calculation of the standard deviation for domestic pigs. s = ......................................................... seconds [1][1]
- (b)(iii)The student used a t-test to analyse the data. The null hypothesis for this t-test was: There is no difference between the time taken for trypsin from Atlantic salmon and trypsin from domestic pigs to break down a gelatine cube at 20°C. The calculated value of t was 2.663. The student compared 2.663 to the values in Table 2.2. Table 2.2 degrees of freedom | probability level (p) | 0.10 | 0.05 | 0.01 | 0.001 20 | 1.725 | 2.086 | 2.845 | 3.850 21 | 1.721 | 2.080 | 2.831 | 3.819 22 | 1.717 | 2.074 | 2.819 | 3.792 23 | 1.714 | 2.069 | 2.807 | 3.767 24 | 1.711 | 2.064 | 2.797 | 3.745 Using Table 2.1, Table 2.2 and the calculated value of t of 2.663, state and explain what the student can conclude about the results.[3]
- (b)(iv)Suggest explanations for the difference between the activity of the enzyme trypsin in Atlantic salmon and the activity of trypsin in domestic pigs.[2]
This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.
Mark scheme
Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.
- [2] independent variable: type / AW, of trypsin;
- [2] dependent variable: time (taken to break down gelatine) ;
- [1] any one from:
- [1] 1 pH (of solution);
- [1] 2 surface area / mass / volume, of cube ;
- [1] 3 concentration of, gelatine / collagen, in cube ;
- [1] mean = 131.1;
- [1] s = 3.2 ;
- [3] any three from:
- [3] 1 critical value (at degrees of freedom = 22 and p = 0.05) = 2.074 ;
- [3] 2 calculated (t−) value / 2.663 is, greater than, critical (t−) value / 2.074; ora
- [3] 3 null hypothesis is rejected;
- [3] 4 there is a significant difference (at p = 0.05) ;
- [2] any two from:
- [2] 1 idea that salmon trypsin is adapted to colder temperatures ; ora
- [2] 2 (at 20 °C) salmon trypsin forms enzyme-substrate complexes at a faster rate (than pig trypsin) ; ora
- [2] 3 AVP;
Write your answer and get it marked
On Oracle Prep you can write or photograph your own answer and have it marked by AI against this mark scheme, with feedback on what you missed.
Sign up free →