82 OXIDATION-REDUCTION POTENTIALS 



The manometric technique is capable of an almost infinity of variation. Changes 

 can be made in enzyme systems, substrates, conditions of pH, gaseous environment 

 and temperature, inhibitors (such as cyanide, fluoride, iodoacetate) can be added, and 

 at the end of the experiment microanalyses can be carried out on the reaction products. 

 Discretion in the interpretation of results is necessary and confirmatory studies by 

 other methods are desirable, but the insight gained into many biological processes by 

 the mere recording of the movement of the meniscus in a capillary tube is almost 

 incredible. 



Summary of Chapter IV 



Many substances of biological importance including enzymes, vitamins, hor- 

 mones and pigments behave as oxidation-reduction systems and in a number of cases 

 the biological activity has been correlated with electrode potential behaviour. Oxida- 

 tion-reduction conditions in cells and tissues, in cell suspensions and in tissue cultures 

 have been investigated. 



