MOLECULES OF LIFE
Essential Question
How do living systems build or breakdown macromolecules?
Learning Expectation
Student is expected to construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.
Disciplinary Core Ideas:
The sugar molecules thus formed contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen: their hydrocarbon backbones are used to make amino acids and other carbon-based molecules that can be assembled into larger molecules (such as proteins or DNA), used for example to form new cells.
As matter and energy flow through different organizational levels of living systems, chemical elements are recombined in different ways to form different products.
Iowa Core Standards Correlation:
HS-LS1-6. Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.
1.1. All life is based on the element carbon.
Objectives:
(a.) Explain why life is fundamentally chemical in nature.
(b.) Explain why life is based on carbon.
Links/Sources:
1.2. A proper diet consists of the necessary biological macromolecules.
Objectives:
(c.) Read nutrition labels to determine which foods contain important biological molecules.
(d.) Describe the importance of vitamins in a healthy diet.
Links/Sources:
Sections 3.2 - 3.6
Nutrionix (site used for 'healthy meals' claim)
1.3. Biological macromolecules are large molecules built from smaller molecules that are necessary for life.
Objectives:
(e.) Define biological macromolecule and identify the function, chemical structure and use of the four biological molecules.
(f.) Identify and model the monomers used to build macromolecules.
(g.) Locate where biomolecules are located in bacteria, plants and the human body.
1.4. Biochemical tests can be used to identify an unknown microbe.
Objectives:
(h.) Analyze results of biochemical tests to identify an unknown microbe.
Minds on Biology (MOBs):
MOB 11: Biochemical Identification of Microbes. (includes ACT prep)
Links/Sources:
Claim/Lab: Bacterial Biochemical Identification
1.5. Enzymes are proteins functioning as catalysts that speed up biochemical reactions.
Objectives:
(i.) Summarize the importance of enzymes and their role in biochemical reactions.
(j.) Identify factors that affect enzyme activity and interpret the results of an enzyme experiment.
Links/Sources:
Section 5.3
Lab/Claim: Enzyme Activity