BE FPOP(Su24):Analyzing your results

Introduction

For your final exercise you will analyze the data from your experiment and compare the actual results to your expected results!

Protocol

Analyze fermentation product yield data

Here is your data! Fresh from the plate reader.

1. Analyze your ethanol assay yield results using the Data Analysis template (provided here).
   • Be sure to work through the directions provided at the top of the template.
2. Because the template auto-populates the calculations, a description for each of the steps is provided below so you better understand how your results were generated.
3. In the 'DATA FOR ETHANOL STANDARDS' section, the data from the FPOP team is used to generate a standard curve. The slope of the standard curve is used to convert the absorbance values for experimental conditions into % ethanol values.
4. In the 'DATA FOR YOUR EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS' section, the data from your experiment is corrected, normalized, then finally the amount of ethanol generated for each condition is calculated.
   • First the absorbance values for the experimental conditions are blank-corrected by subtracting the absorbance value acquired for the 0% ethanol standard. This eliminates the background noise from each of your samples.
   • Next the % ethanol is calculated based on the blank-corrected absorbance value for each of the experimental conditions.
   • Last the % ethanol is normalized to OD to account for differences in cell number between the cultures for the experimental conditions.
5. In your laboratory notebook, complete the following:
   • Which condition generated the most ethanol? The least ethanol?
   • How do the results compare to the rank order you set as part of Exercise #2?
   • For each condition, were the results consistent with what you expected? Why or why not?
   • Are you confident in the results? Why or why not?