L6 Biologists Investigate The Effect of Temperature on Lipase

Last week, our L6 biologists undertook an experiment to investigate the effect of temperature on the activity of lipase.

Lipase is a type of protein, found in the pancreas, that helps the body digest fats.

To conduct their experiment, our students used an indicator called phenolphthalein, which is a bright pink colour in alkaline solutions of about pH10.

The girls used an alkaline solution of milk, lipase and phenolphthalein and exposed them to different temperatures. They then measured the time it took for the solution to change from pink to colourless as the fat in the milk was broken down to form fatty acids, and reducing the solution to a lower pH.

Experiments like this are important in understanding how different temperatures and environments can affect the human digestive system. Our Lower Sixth students thoroughly enjoyed this experiment and drew some informative conclusions from their findings.