ABSTRACT
Chapters 15 and 16 focused primarily on relationships that form a straight line when graphed. Although linear relationships are extremely important, not all relationships that biotechnologists encounter are linear. This chapter discusses two important examples of nonlinear relationships: (1) the relationship between the number of cultured cells present and time elapsed and (2) the relationship between the amount of radioactivity present and time elapsed. A third example is found in Chapter 23 where electrophoresis of DNA fragments is discussed. Yet another example is discussed in Chapters 24 and 25, where we look at the exponential amplification of DNA using a method called polymerase chain reaction.
