We want to find out more about the effects or patterns of enzymes, i.e., papain and bromelain, on a protein such as gelatin. Our hypothesis: Selected enzymes develop fractal patterns when injected into gelatin and the patterns are altered by concentration levels.
We tested our question by injecting differing concentrations of papain into Knox gelatin. The gelatin was poured into Petri dishes to a depth of 0.5 cm. A rubber washer was inserted into the gelatin. This washer was removed after the gelatin had hardened to create a well into which the papian enzyme solution could be introduced. Various concentrations of enzymes solutions were prepared and red dye was added to the solutions to make them more visible. Different quantities of enzyme solutions (from 0.1 to 1 ml) were added to the wells and the solutions were allowed to diffuse across the gelatin. In an alternative procedure, the gelatin was added to a depth of 3 cm in a 5cm deep vial, and different quantities of enzyme solution were placed on the top of the gelatin surface. The enzyme solution diffused downward into the gelatin.(Explain how your project was conducted in a "step by step" fashion with enough detail so that another teacher could replicate it.)
The experimental procedure was not successful in producing patterns that could be investigated as fractal dimensions. The enzyme solution diffused too slowly and uniformly across the gelatin to produce a visible dendritic pattern. Numerous trials of different gelatin concentrations, enzyme concentrations, and quantity of enzyme solution failed to produce the expected fractal pattern, but did produce a consistent globular pattern. (What did the data you collected indicate about what happened in your project? Include all data here. What did your charts, graphs, and statistical analysis show? This is especially important in regard to your hypothesis!)
We concluded that diffusion of an aqueous enzyme solution through an aqueous gelatin phase does not produce dendritic patterns, thus disproving our original hypothesis. The substances need to have significant differences in density/viscosity for the fractal pattern to form. We rejected our original hypothesis because straight injection of the enzyme into gelatin does not produce dendritic patterns.