How Big Are Enzymes?
Data Story
Students interpret a pie graph of the lengths of about 2000 human enzymes, and then write a claim that generalizes about enzymes based on this dataset (a sample).
Welcome to this Tuva data story! Proteins are large molecules that perform a great variety of functions in organisms. Proteins consist of long chains of amino acids. The specific order of the amino acids in the chains determines the way the chain will fold and, thus, the three-dimensional structure of the protein. The shape of a protein is what allows it to perform a specific function. Enzymes are types of proteins that catalyze and regulate chemical reactions, including many cellular functions. It is believed that the minimum length an enzyme can be in order to function is about 40 amino acids. Is this the size of most human enzymes? In this data story, you will explore the sizes of a sample of about 2,000 human enzymes. Click Next to get started!
Topics and standards: Science, Life Science, Claim-Evidence-Reasoning, Human Biology, Homeostasis & Disease, Grades 9-12