Q: Would my alternative way to apply gradation for certain values (of enzyme and substrate) in order to highlight them be okay to do?
I am planning to create a table that lists the numerical values of the results obtained from the analysis of the binding ability between enzyme and substrate. There are many combinations of enzyme and substrate. I plan to use a numerical value with a gradation corresponding to the numerical size, in order to show which combination has a high affinity. However, the range of numerical values for all the combinations is wide. So, I was thinking of changing how I apply gradation for certain values in order to highlight them, as I want to especially draw attention to them. Would this be regarded arbitrary or should this be avoided?
Let’s see if we’ve understood this correctly. You plan on applying an even gradation (of color or shade) based on the numerical value corresponding to the strength of the binding affinity. In addition, you would like to change the gradation of particular combinations in order to draw attention to them.
If our understanding is correct, this may not be an issue from a publication point of view, as long as you explain how you did this in the table legend.
However, to a reader, this might look random and slightly confusing. So, a better option to draw attention to some values or combinations would be to use a different way to highlight them. Perhaps you could mark these values in bold or have specific symbols next to these table entries to draw attention to specific values.
Hope that helps.
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