Saturday, October 5, 2019
Social Construction of Race Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Social Construction of Race - Essay Example Or he might consider himself as European because, though he lived in Asia, he lives as a European still. In this case, the basis for race classification is not physical feature but the cultural values of the person. This indicates that we can never know for sure the race of the person by looking at them. 2. Media is one powerful tool in shaping a societyââ¬â¢s culture, values and preference. At the present time, the media is used by everyone. And we mean every form media, not just television or radio. Nowadays, the power of social media with the dawn of the World Wide Web is clearly visible. It shapes how people think and believe. Media can actually be used to open the perspective of different nations, not just in critical events such as war, economy and politics but also other issues concerning education, women and crime. Because media can now encompass all ages and all races, it can be used to create a venue for open dialogue between different societies in order to create resolu tions for different problems, whether itââ¬â¢s big or small. It can open a nationââ¬â¢s eyes on how their own people believe in but it also can bridge the gap between different nations.
Friday, October 4, 2019
Wynn Las Vegas Business Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Wynn Las Vegas Business Plan - Essay Example The element is bond to enable Wynn Las Vegas Company to execute proper strategic thinking and strategic planning towards the achievement of competitiveness in the market. This is apparent since the strategy will enable the company to make sense of the emerging markets and technologies through seeing and understanding of the operating patterns and trends (Chabria, Green & Slutsky, 2006). Therefore, the strategy is essential as it will enable the company to design the organizations performance direction effectively, set priorities, perform effective budgeting, and allocate resources fairly. Environmental analysis entails evaluation of the key factors that influence effective operations of institutions. The factors that are popularly known as PESTEL include political, economic, social, technology, social, ecological, and legal aspects. Evaluation of the economic aspect is vital for the hospitality service provider, as it will obtain critical information that will facilitate its ability to dealing with the economic externalities in the environment. It will give the institution the greenlight on how the performance is likely to be during a period. Therefore, it is prudent for the company to evaluate and understand the political undertakings in the region (Chabria, Green & Slutsky, 2006). When it comes to technology, social, ecology and legal factors, the company will analyze the technological changes the environment embraces, the fairness of the existing laws and the favoritism of the ecosystem including social integration. Analysis of the aspects is to enable the company make an accurate decision on whether to continue executing its services or relocate to other destinations. High level of competitiveness is a key factor that Wynn Las Vegas seeks to achieve in the hotel industry. The company is planning to achieve this through provision of quality services and products real time, effective product
Thursday, October 3, 2019
STEEPLE and Balance Scorecard Essay Example for Free
STEEPLE and Balance Scorecard Essay When a firm uses an external consultant to solve a problem or evaluate an opportunity the consultant can use STEEPLE (social, technological, economic, environmental, legal, and ethical), which is a preliminary analysis technique to answer why the business organization or systems exist (Wickham, Wickham, 2008, p. 128). This analysis the consultant preforms helps to determine how the firm business fits in its external environment. The consultant can also use the balances scorecard to measure the financial and non-financial performance of the firm. The consultant will use the STEEPLE and Balance Scorecard to analyze Phillip-Morris introduction of its electronic cigarettes in the market. In addition, the consultant will make any recommendation to Phillip-Morris from the results of the STEEPLE and Balance Scorecard analysis. STEEPLE Analysis The STEEPLE analysis is and extension of the PEST analysis. The PEST analysis acronym stands for; political, economical, social, and technological factors the firm may face in its external environment. This analysis is a form of system analysis that provides a structure for examining elements from the larger system of which the firm is a part of (Gustafson, 2002, p. 134) The STEELPE analysis includes the factors of the PEST analysis with the additions of the legal, environment, and ethical factors the firm can also face in its external environment. The consultant will examine the seven external environmental factors to solve the firmââ¬â¢s problem or opportunity in the market: Sociological factors are trends and attitudes that can affect buying behaviors. The negative publicity that firms, such as Phillip-Morris on the effects of smoking cigarettes, has altered societies view of Phillip-Morris. This has led to millions of individuals to stop smoking to improve his or her health st atus. Technological factors- Technology is constantly changing. This trend is that advanced technology generates new questions. The question for Phillip-Morris is does the firm have the knowledge for the design, production, and delivery of the product? If not, where can the firm gain the knowledge to produce such a product or use a third party to produce it. Economic factors- the consultant will look at if the target market can afford the product. In addition, the consultant must look at if the Phillip-Morris can afford to borrow the necessary funds to produce the product. Environmental Factors- The consultant look at how the e-cigarettes will be packaged and what type of chemicals is going to be used in the production of the product. Depending on the package materials and the chemicals that are used in the production of the product can have a negative effect on the environment. Green issues are important in society today, and the firm must take the issues of protecting the environment in consideration when producing any product. Political and legal factors- relates to the government of a countries federal, state, and local law passed by various governmental agencies. In this analysis the consultant must look at what laws and the attitudes of government agencies have been made for regulating smoking e-cigarettes. Ethical Factors- The consultant must look at how the product will be packaged, design and the marketing campaign to entice consumers to buy the product. This is because the negative publicity cigarettes firms marketing, packaging, and design its products to minors. If the product is produced to make smoking e-cigarettes is ââ¬Å"coolâ⬠this can have a negative impact on the company, because it can entice minors to use the product. After conducting the STEEPLE analysis the consultant must determine where the firm has strengthens, weakness, thre ats, and opportunities in the internal and external environment. Phillip-Morris has a negative sociological factor regarding the views of consumers who uses the firmââ¬â¢s products. This negative view has made millions of customers to stop using the firms products. The technological factor, Phillip-Morris has does not have the knowledge of producing e-cigarettes. The firm will have to rely on a third party to produce the product. With the company not having the technology or the technical know how to produce e-cigarettes the price of the product can be very expensive. This has a negative affect on the economical factor, because many consumers may not be able to afford theà product. In addition, by the firm using a third party to produce the product the firm does not assume the risk of borrowing the necessary funds. The firm will not have any negative environmental factors of producing the product, because the third party will assume the risk. However, Phillip-Morris does impact the environment with its current production of making cigarettes. In the political and legal issues the firm can face is very limited. Phillip-Morris will have to comply with federal, state, and local laws governing the legal age requirement for purchasing the product. The firm will have ethical issues if the packaging, design, and marketing is promoting the alternative way of smoking as ââ¬Å"cool.â⬠This can entice young society members to purchase and use the product. However, if its marketing, packaging, and design is to provide adults an alternative and health way of smoking. This will show society that the firm cares about the health of its customers and those who are affected by second hand smoke. Balance Scorecard The balance scorecard gives the organization a total management system to help clarify its vision and strategy. In addition, this technique gives the usable data for the organization to take appropriate business actions, provides feedback to the internal business processes and the external outcomes to improve the firms strategic performance. According to the article ââ¬Å"Using the Balance Scorecard,â⬠written by Kaplan and Norton (1996), (pp. 75-85) the balance scorecard has four perspectives of: Financial Perspectives- Phillip-Morris must balance its business functions which as been allocated across the organization. If the Phillip-Morris decides to increase its economic growth it can do this through a productivity strategy. Phillip-Morris can lower the direct and indirect expense to improve cost, or reduce working and fixed capital to utilize its assets to support the business Customer Perspectives- The value proposition of the customer is the mix of products, price, service , relationship, and Phillip-Morris image. With this perspective Phillip-Morris will have to take on its competition. The company will have to differentiate its value proposition. Phillip-Morris can do this by selecting different operational excellence, customer intimacy, and product leadership. Business Process Perspectives-This matric allows management to understand how efficiently the organization is performing. It also helps Phillip-Morris to understand ifà its products or services is meeting the customers needs. In addition, this perspective makes sure that the organization is align with the four high level business process of: Building franchises Increase customer value Achieving operational excellences Phillip-Morris becoming a good corporate citizen Learning and Growth Perspectives- This perspective looks at the employee career growth, training, and the corporate culture for individual and the firmââ¬â¢s self-improvement. In addition, it looks at the knowledge enhancements that Phillip-Morris has to communicate with employees and a mentor program. If Phillip-Morris can enhance employees learning and growth it can have a workforce to meet the firms strategic position. These perspectives allow the development of metrics, data analysis, and collection for the firm. Phillip-Morris is the largest tobacco firms and has a clear objective for its current and potential stockholders. This objective can be to improve the financial side of the firm. In this case the firm has the motivation to have long-term shareholder value, and avoiding the ethical issues that is associated with tobacco companies. By doing this Philip-Morris will neglect the customer, business process, and learning and growth perspective of the balance scorecard. Phill ip-Morris must develop a different business strategy to have a more balanced scorecard. Recommendations The STEEPLE analysis shows Phillip-Morris has a negative sociological and technological factor. There are no environmental factors in producing e-cigarettes, and the political and legal issues will be the same as other tobacco products. The ethical factors can be a negative or positive depending on how the company package, design, and market the product. Phillip-Morris balance scorecard focuses on the financial perspective, while neglecting the three other perspectives. With Phillip-Morris focusing on the financial perspective, and without the technical know how. It is recommended that Phillip-Morris look for a third party to produce its e-cigarettes. It is also the recommendation for Phillip-Morris to enter in a joint venture so it can gain the technical knowledge and have a completeà balance scorecard. References Gustafson, K. (2002). The future of instructional design. In R. Rieser J. Dempsey (Eds.), Trends and issues in instructional design and technology (pp. 333-343). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Merril/Prentice Hall Kaplan, R.S., Norton, D.P. (1996, January-February). Using the Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Management System. Harvard Business Review, 74(1), 75-85. ESBCO Host. Wickham, P., Wickham, L. (2008). Management consulting: Delivering an effective project (3rd ed.). Harlow, England: Pearson
Forensic Science In Twenty First Century Criminal Justice Criminology Essay
Forensic Science In Twenty First Century Criminal Justice Criminology Essay Forensic science (often is written as forensics) is a number of different sciences that answer questions of legal system. This may be relevant to a crime or a civil action. It is also relevant to a legal system, more generally forensic science covers the accepted scientific methodology and norms with the help of which the facts regarding some events, or artifacts, or some other physical item that can be the case. In that regard the concept is related to the idea of authentication, where by an interest outside of a legal form exists in determining whether an object is what it wishes to be, or is alleged as being. Nowadays it is certainly easier to solve crime problems than it was 70 years ago, because of the progress that was made in science, and especially in forensic science. New crime solving techniques that appeared were created in order to help law experts to solve cases that are baffling the first time. If we took a look at the role that forensic science plays in the sphere of justice criminal law, we would understand how significant it is in solving crime problems because: It really helps to identify the gist of the crime: we can divide crime into two types: crimes that are accidents and another type is: that are made by design. Analyzing the evidence with the help of a forensic microscope we see experts in enforcement area to understand if the crime can be qualified as a murder, suicide or some other form of accidental death. If it is qualified as a murder, experts tell if the crime was accidental or not. Forensic science is used to detect drug offenses, automobile accidents and burglaries and arsons Forensic science helps to remove someones prejudices to the crime: It makes officers to explore only the evidence and not look at their feelings or instincts. That is why it helps to have the right way to solve a crime (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2004, p. 32). We also should mention that the most important is that, it helps solve the crime itself: Examine such facts as the time of death or any other physical basis, forensics can tell for sure if a man is guilty in the crime or innocent as he claims. Forensic science extends into a lot of sub-sciences which uses natural science techniques to get relevant criminal and legal evidence (Richbourg, J., 2004, p.17). Forensic science specialties of the 21st century include: Forensic Accounting This science allows receiving, examining and taking into account obtained data. Digital Forensics (also called as Computing Forensics) includes scientific methods and techniques used for search, recovery of information on digital media (pictures, e-mail). Forensic Document Examination This science allows studying, recovering and understanding the documents, making an analysis of handwriting and drawings, charts and graphics. Many studies involve a comparison of the observed document, or components of it, to a set of known standards. Forensic Economics The purchasing, researching and understanding of evidence that are from economic field, business. Forensic Engineering This science includes reconstruction, researching and explanation of buildings. (Escholz S., 2002, p. 319). Forensic Linguistics The searching and explanation of language. Forensic Origin and Cause The researching, explanation and identification of a fire for the express purpose of determining the cause of ignition and origin of the fire. Forensic Anthropology is the kind of physical anthropology, relevant to a legal situation, examines bones. Forensic Photography reconstructing, and preceding a photographic explanation of a crime scene. Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry It includes researching, evaluation and understanding of mental illnesses and mans behavior for. Criminalistics is the supplement of combination of clues (i.e. fingerprints imprint footwear impressions and tire tracks), ballistics, trace evidence, controlled material. Criminalistics includes clues collected from different kinds of sciences to find the answers of questions relating to the researching and comparison of criminal investigations. This evidence is usually processed in a crime lab. Forensic Biology includes testing DNA and serological tests of physiological that helps in identification and individualization. Forensic Entomology helps in determination of time and location of death, by studding how insects influence the human remains, also can tell if the body was moved after death or not. Forensic Geology is a kind of science that works with minerals, soils and petroleum (Escholz et al., 2002, p. 321; Surette, 1998.p. 194). Forensic Meteorology is an analysis of prior weather situation, specific to the site being observed. Forensic Odontology is the science about teeth- specifically, the uniqueness of dentition. Forensic Pathology combines the spheres of medicine and pathology, determines the cause of injury or death. Forensic Toxicology is science that helps to give the evaluation and the elucidation of the effects of chemicals, poisons, and drugs on the human body. Forensic archaeology is the example of a mixture of forensics and archaeological techniques. Forensic psychology discovers the humans mind, with scientific methods. It often deals with the circumstances behind a criminals behavior. Forensic video analysis is the scientific research, comparison, and analyzing of video in legal matters (Cather, K.H., 2004, pp.9-10). Forensic engineering is the studding and analyzing of different objects in order to answer questions as to their failure or reason of damage. Forensic limnology is the analyzing of clues gathered from crime scenes in or around fresh water sources. Revision of biological organisms, particularly diatoms, can be used in connecting suspects with victims. Forensic science is very important for policing, criminal investigations and court processes because it helps with: Crime-Solving Contributions. Forensic science helps in to solving crimes through investigative activities such as studding the reason of death, finding missing persons and identifying suspects. Determining Cause of Death. Experts-pathologists define the reason of someones death by making autopsies. Making such procedures, they can tell the reason of death and the time of it. Identifying Suspects. Forensic experts can understand suspects by examine clues got from the scene of a crime ( hairs, blood, fibers and fingerprints). Finding Missing Persons. Scientists can help to find people disappeared a long time using the process of image modification. Using this method, a photograph can show how someone may look after some years without being seen (Cather, K.H., 2004, pp.11; Escholz et al., 2002, p. 339). Profiling Criminals. Forensic experts use profiling when they want to find suspects. While studding a crime accident, they can tell about a criminals personality and patterns. Forensic Science is important because it helps in analyzing of forensic clue is used in the prosecution and investigation of civil and criminal proceedings.Ã It can help to find the guilt or innocence of suspects. The public is primarily educated about forensic science by Hollywood films and television shows (Barak, 1995, p. 3). Within the past ten years, the emphasis on forensics as a primary tool to solve crimes has increased significantly on broadcast television with shows like CSI. In comparison, Hollywood films have rarely featured a forensic scientist working in a lab or out in the field as a main character. Typically, the police make a stop at the crime lab to drop off or pick up potential evidence, thus move the films investigative plot forward. Nevertheless, as depicted by the media, forensic science is a broad field practiced by both genuine forensic scientists and law enforcement investigators. In the real world, the duties of forensic specialists are normally limited to forensic science techniques; however, police investigators use forensic methods on occasion (Cather, K.H., 2004, p.13) Audiences have learned about forensics from television as well as film. Television has shown both traditional forensic science and the use of forensic science by law enforcement through news shows, documentaries, docudramas and crime dramas. These have been given much greater exposure lo the public in various television formats than Hollywood films ever did. Probably first to focus on forensic scientists were investigative news shows, such as 60 Minutes, 48 Hours, and MSNBC investigates. These often featured repugnant criminal acts that were solved through the use of forensic science evidence. During the mid 1990s, docudramas that focus on forensic scientists began to emerge. New Detectives, FBI Files, and Forensic Files, feature actors to recreate actual cases to depict how forensic science evidence assisted in the successful capture of offenders. Nowadays there are a lot of videos and documentary films about forensics, such as A Case of Murder, Dead Mens Tales, Killers Trail, The Case for Innocence, The Case for Innocence, Jeffersons Blood, The Bone Collector, Murder by Numbers, Kiss the Girls. We should also mention such great television Series with Forensic Science Elements as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Crossing Jordan, Law and Order (Richbourg, J., 2004, p.19). We can find a lot of True life crime forensic science on television in such shows as: New Detectives, Forensic Files, I, Detective, Cold Case Files, Medical Detectives, Forensic Science, Unsolved History. The fact that television shows aspects of sciences makes it a honor. The TV shows like CSI has made students to be interested in forensics courses. Young people who watch CSI believe that those scenarios, where forensic scientists are always right, are what happen in reality. It means that in court, juries are not always impressed with evidence presented using scientific terms. Another big problem created by media coverage of forensic science is that it informs criminals of the techniques the police use to catch them. That is why, some forensics experts are not willing to cooperate with the media (Cather, K.H., 2004, pp.13). There is an increasing amount of criminals who use gloves while making crimes and even use condoms during rapes in order not to leave their DNA at the scene. As a conclusions we can say that a minority of Americas population has had no direct experience with the criminal justice system (Escholz et al., 2002, p. 328; Surette Otto, 2002, p. 450). That is why those who are called for jury duty know very little of the capabilities of the use of forensic science to resolve criminal investigations. With the media serving as a primary source of information to 95% of the public (Surette, 1998.p. 197), the reality of forensic science in the average citizens mind could be based only on the medial depictions of forensic experts. The ability of media to reach a broad audience seems to have caused a reaction by trial lawyers. For the last several years, the forensic crime drama CSI has surpassed the popularity of any other television show (Nielson Media Research. 2004). Nearly 80% of the surveyed lawyers suspected fans of forensic crime dramas have unrealistic expectations of evidence. The common belief among trial lawyers that forensic crime dramas create such unrealistic expectations seems to have resulted in several changes while preparing for trials and during criminal proceedings. First, a slight majority of the lawyers reported they ask jury candidates if they specifically view forensic crime dramas during voir dire. Attorneys also may be compensating for the possibility that jurors have unrealistic expectations of forensic evidence by submitting additional evidence for forensic testing. Fifty-one percent of the lawyers reported requesting some forensic tests more than they did five years ago. In contras t, prosecuting attorneys maybe requesting further forensic test because of an increased interest in matters involving forensic science by defense attorneys. For every topic of defense interest investigated by the current study, at least 59% of the lawyers reported an increase. The responses to surveys by criminal trial lawyers suggest the majority of attorneys have reacted the current popularity of forensic crime dramas. Before these findings can be accepted as a general nationwide trend, further research in multiple regions of the country is needed. Qualitative and quantitative studies should be designed to test the findings of this study and expound upon this possibility. Better preparation by judges and attorneys to counter such a trend is warranted.
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Symbolism in the Play Everyman Essay -- Papers
Symbolism in the Play Everyman The play Everyman dates back to medieval times and has affected many people throughout the centuries. Many life lessons are looked at throughout the play through symbolism, which helps the reader understand lifeââ¬â¢s lessons easier. Everyman, an allegory, had symbolism scattered throughout the entire story, which helped to better show lessons learned through life. In Everyman, symbolism is present in many characters, including Good-Deeds, Confession, and Death. In the play Everyman, Good-Deeds is symbolic through his character name, costume, and actions. Good-Deeds shows symbolism through his many charitable acts. Good-Deeds wishes to go along with Everyman on his journey before death, but he has been too weak. With being to weak Good-Deedsââ¬â¢ sister, Knowledge, decides to go along. This shows symbolism through his charitable acts. Good-Deedsââ¬â¢ costume symbolizes happiness by far and peace and perhaps was the color yellow. Good-Deedsââ¬â¢ actions during the play are also symbolic. Good-Deeds helps Ev... Symbolism in the Play Everyman Essay -- Papers Symbolism in the Play Everyman The play Everyman dates back to medieval times and has affected many people throughout the centuries. Many life lessons are looked at throughout the play through symbolism, which helps the reader understand lifeââ¬â¢s lessons easier. Everyman, an allegory, had symbolism scattered throughout the entire story, which helped to better show lessons learned through life. In Everyman, symbolism is present in many characters, including Good-Deeds, Confession, and Death. In the play Everyman, Good-Deeds is symbolic through his character name, costume, and actions. Good-Deeds shows symbolism through his many charitable acts. Good-Deeds wishes to go along with Everyman on his journey before death, but he has been too weak. With being to weak Good-Deedsââ¬â¢ sister, Knowledge, decides to go along. This shows symbolism through his charitable acts. Good-Deedsââ¬â¢ costume symbolizes happiness by far and peace and perhaps was the color yellow. Good-Deedsââ¬â¢ actions during the play are also symbolic. Good-Deeds helps Ev...
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
The Nirvitarka Concentration as Represented In Narayans Mr Sampath Ess
The novels of R.K. Narayan reflect that Indian sensibility which has been acquired through the ages from the wisdom of Indian philosophical thought that has been continually enriched since the ancient times but which had receded since colonization. Narayan adopts this 'theoretical base of the Indian philosophical tradition to retrieve and reconstitute a sense of Indianness. Perhaps, this is why he has proved to be "the most lasting, highly rated and widely accessible, while his writing is the most consciously rooted in local circumstances, traditions and values" as claimed by Dennis Walde(694). Meenakshi Mukherjee had earlier recognized Gandhi as having reached the state of Jeevan Mukta as depicted in Waiting for the Mahatma (Mukherjee 99-100). Even V.P. Rao observed that "Krishnan practices some sort of yoga. He goes through the... The last three stages of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi."(Rao 32)Taking this a priory. I attempt to evaluate Srinivas of Mr Sampath on the scale of Patanjal i's Nirvitarka concentration as mentioned in his Yogasutra. Before embarking on the venture of interpreting Srinivas's experience of undergoing Nirvitarka concentration during an exorcist's ritual, it is imperative to have an overview of Patanjali's Yoga philosophy, of course, in a nutshell. Throughout this paper I have referred to P.N.Mukerji's translation of Patanjali's Yoga-sutra as well as of the commentary on Yoga philosophy by Swami Hariharananda Aranya. In his Yoga-sutra Patanjali expounds the theory of controlling the mind in order to know the Self. As he says, ;ksxfpÃâ¢ko`fÃâ¢kfujks/k% (Aranya 7) Yoga is the discipline of restraining the fluctuation or modification caused due to the occupation of the mind. The occupation of the mind is to create t... ...his family, at the crucial moments of their life by acquiescing to take care of his father in the absence of Ravi and his mother when she takes Ravi to the tantric's village Works Cited Aranya,Swami Hariharananda.Yoqa Philosophy of Patanjali Trans.P, N.Mukerji.Calcutta: University Press, 1963. Bowling,L.E. "What is the Stream of Conscious Technique." Critical Approaches To Fiction. Ed.Shiv K.Kumar and Keith Mckean. New Delhi: Atlantic, 2003.331-345. Mukherjee,Meenakshi. The Twice Born Fiction. New Delhi: Heinemann, 1974. Narayan,R.K. "Mr. Sampath." The World of Malqudi. Ed.S.Krishnan. New Delhi: Viking, 2000. Rao,V.P. "The Art of R.K.Narayan." The Journal of Commonwealth Literature. 5(1968) 32-35 Warder, Dennis. Post-Colonial Literatures in English: History, Language, Theory. Oxford: Blackwell, 1998.Ind.Rpt.2002.
Effect of enzymes on reactions Essay
Effect of enzymes on reactions Introduction à à à à The function of any enzyme largely depends on the arrangement of its amino acids. The shape of an enzyme is so important such that any alteration or change in its amino acid sequence can have a huge effect on its function. An alteration to the amino acids in an enzyme does not only alter it shape but also its functionality. During a reaction, the whole enzyme does not take part but rather a small part known as the active site. The shape and appearance of the active site in any enzyme is determined by its three dimensional structure. The active site of an enzyme houses the shape of the substrate that needs to be changed during the reaction. This means that enzymes and substrates work like a lock and key. Since a specific key can only open a specific lock, this is explains why enzymes are specific in their reactions. How enzymes catalyze reactions à à à à As noted earlier, enzymes serve as catalysts that speed up the rate at which biochemical reactions take place. They mainly work by offering a substitute pathway for reactions. Compared to other catalysts, the pathway provided by enzymes reduces activation energy. The same with all other catalysts, enzymes participate in reactions and this is the main way through which they offer a substitute reaction pathway. However, it is worthy noting that enzymes do not undergo any permanent changes during a reaction but remain intact. There main role in a reaction is to increase the rate but not the position of the reaction equilibrium (Cornish-Bowden 47). Unlike chemicals that catalyze a number of reactions, enzymes are usually very selective and can only catalyze precise reactions. This characteristic can be attributed to the shape of molecules that make up enzymes. Majority of enzymes are made up of a protein and non protein known as the cofactor. In most cases, the protein s found in the enzymes are globular. Any change in temperature and pH disrupts the inter-molecular and intra-molecular bonds that hold the proteins together in their tertiary and secondary structures. This means that catalytic ability of an enzyme is temperature and pH sensitive. à à à à For any molecules to react, they must come into contact with one another. In other words, they must collide with enough energy and in the correct direction. Sufficient energy is important during a reaction because it helps the molecules overcome the energy barrier to the reaction. This type of energy is known as activation energy. During a reaction, the active side of an enzyme attaches itself to one of the reacting molecules known as the substrate. A reaction catalyzed by an enzyme takes a different route compared to that catalyzed by other catalysts. The coming together of an enzyme and a substrate results in a reaction intermediate. Enzyme substrate Enzyme-substrate complex à à à à The best experiment that can be used to validate the claim that enzymes do in fact catalyze reactions is looking at how enzymes help human beings digest food. There are different types of foods that are consumed by human beings. Some of the most common foods consumed by people are the two types of sugars namely disaccharides and monosaccharaides. These two sugars are derived from foods like fruits which also contain fructose and glucose. All monosaccharides derived from the foods that we eat is absorbed directly and transported to different cells in the body (Cornish-Bowden 96). Unlike monosaccharides, disaccharides need to be broken down into their monosaccharide form before they can be absorbed into the body. In the absence of a catalyst, the rate at which the absorption of monosaccharide galactose and glucose take place is very slow. Since human bodies require a lot of energy to function properly, it is important that the absorption process is quickened through the use of an enzyme. The main enzyme that is produced by human bodies to quicken the absorption process is known as a lactase. The experiment would involve the following steps. This experiment can be represented using the following diagram. Fill a tube with 20 ml of a lactose solution. Fill another tube with 20 ml of lactose solution and 2 ml of lactase solution. Shake the tube to ensure that the two solutions mix. Give the experiment 5 minutes for the lactose to breakdown into galactose and glucose. Use a test strip to monitor the process. Originally, the strip is usually colored aqua. If it turns brown, olive or green, it is an indication that glucose is present. Compare the results from the two tubes. à à à à If the color of the test strip turns brown, olive or green, this is an indication that glucose is present. This means that reaction in the tube with lactase was catalyzed resulting in the production of glucose. The reaction in the other tube was slow because there was no catalyst to quicken the reaction. The result from this experiment indicates that indeed enzymes can play a big role in catalyzing reactions. References Cornish-Bowden, Athel. Fundamentals of Enzyme Kinetics. (3rd edition), Portland Press, 2004. Print. Source document
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