Human Salivary a-Amylase and Starch Digestion: A Simple and Inexpensive At-Home Laboratory Experience in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Autores organización

• 

  Sandra Johanna Morantes Medina

  Autor

• David Augusto Diaz Baez

  Autor

Autores

• Vargas-Oviedo D

Grupos de investigación

• Investigación en Química Aplicada INQA

  

  Investigador

  James Oswaldo Guevara Pulido

• Unidad de Investigación Básica Oral UIBO

  

  Investigador

  Gloria Ines Lafaurie Villamil

Resumen

The first case of coronavirus disease 2019 in Colombia was detected on March 6, 2020. Subsequently, schools, colleges, and universities were closed on March 26, which forced a massive migration to virtual education and impacted laboratory-based teaching courses. The teaching of biochemistry requires an experimental component that virtual laboratories cannot emulate. To address this concern, the article describes an at-home biochemistry laboratory experience that explores the hydrolysis of starch by a-amylase as a function of enzyme concentration, reaction time, and pH. The general success of the experience was assessed through the quality of information submitted through laboratory reports and feedback from students. A total of 19 laboratory reports were reviewed, and 50 students were surveyed. The analysis indicated that approximately 90% of students expressed favorable opinions about the experience. They understood the objective of the practice, identified the function of each material, and explained the relationship between the obtained results and concepts of enzyme activity presented in theoretical classes. Finally, the study concluded that the at-home laboratory experience is inexpensive and easy to perform outside the traditional laboratory. Furthermore, it enables a genuine practical experience with observations, data collection, analysis, and discussion of results, which meets the expectations for pharmaceutical chemistry students at the Universidad El Bosque in Bogotá, Colombia. © 2021 American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.

© 2021 American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.

Keywords

• Biochemistry; Carbohydrates; Distance Learning/Self Instruction; Enzymes; General Public; Hands-On Learning/Manipulatives; Laboratory Instruction; Upper-Division Undergraduate