SDS-Page lab report

What does question #1 about linear range refer to? I don't see anything about it in the notes or lab book. Is it based on the standard curve you draw? So if my line starts at 380,000 daltons on the y-axis and I have it go all the way down to 2400 daltons, then that is the linear range?

The linear range is, and I quote (from her lecture notes) "Part of the standard curve where concentration of analyte vs absorbance remains linear. -Only samples that fall within the linear range can be accurately estimated." In other words, its just the range of dots on your graph that form close to a straight line.

So, my line does not actually pass through any of the points. How do I know which ones to include as the linear range?

It's not necessarily where your best fit line is...it is the range of points (if any) that have the an almost linear relationship. It could be just three or four points, or it could be a bunch, they just have to make close to a line with each other. Like if you have a bunch that are under your best fit line, and you could draw a line under your best fit line that makes a straight line through those points, then that would be considered the "linear range". I hope I'm not making it sound more complicated than it is. There's a picture in the lecture 3 notes if that might help.

So if my linear range is like from .28 - .75, I can only estimate the molecular weight of the proteins in that range. The ones above or below that range cannot be estimated, right?

Outside of that range they would not be accurate, so no, you cannot estimate outside of that "linear range".

I think this is my last question! So in your table for data question number 3 - do you have points that you wrote that you cannot accurately estimate?

I'm thinking I'll include them and just mention in question 1 which ones were inaccurate. I assume it would be better than omitting them when they were actually necessary. /shrug

What exactly are we supposed to label on this figure?

YAY FOR ANOTHER @#$@% AMBIGUOUS ASSIGNMENT!!

Label the lanes (I called mine lane 1,2, 3, 4) then in the figure legend I described what each lane was. I also labeled the dye front.
I also put in the figure legend what was used - coomassie blue stain, 10% gel and that is was run at 200 volts.

Calm down kyle.... breath in.... breath out....

Shauna what exactly was in each one of our lanes?

well, going from left to right on the picture she posted on blackboard, it is the kaleidiscope (sp?), the broad range, the tube two mixture, then the tube 1 mixture.

Thank you kindly