macromolecule lab

evidence of work

For this project, Maya Gutierrez, Zade Hubbs, and I tested whole wheat bread and an orange for macromolecules. To do this, we set up 4 different experiments to test for 3 different macromolecules (monosaccarides, polysaccarides, proteins, and lipids). We got these experiments from an earlier lab, where instead of using food, we used different standard solutions for each experiment that we knew had the certain macromolecule in them. For the lab, we tested standard solutions with different indicators to see positive and negative color reactions based on the standard solution used. When one of the foods had the macromolecule we were testing for, the substance would turn a certain color that we could recognize from doing our last lab. In our lab, positive control tests were with the smashed up food and the indicator. Negative control tests were with water and the indicator. In the previous lab, positive control tests were with the standard solution that we knew had the macromolecule in it. Negative control tests were with the water and the indicator. To see if the food had the macromolecule in it, the substance in the test tube would turn a certain color. If it was like the color we had seen with the positive control in the first lab we did, we knew that the food had that macromolecule in it.

Before we started the lab, we set up a hypothesis, procedure, and data table dependent on the foods we brought for the lab. We tested each food for positive and negative controls of each experiment, so we did a total of 16 mini experiments. When we finished our lab, we wrote a CLEAR paragraph on what we found and how we found it. The paragraph is posted below on the left. The picture of the data table and procedure is posted below on the right.

CLEAR paragraph: Oranges are mostly made of glucose, classifying them as a monosaccharide. Whole wheat bread is mostly made of starch and gelatin, which makes it a polysaccharide/protein. For this experiment, we tested standard solutions with indicators to see positive and negative color results based on if the standard solution was present. The first time, we only tested standard solutions that we knew would have a positive result, but the second time, we tested 2 foods to see what macromolecules made up the foods (which foods made the results positive). The first time we did the glucose experiment, the positive result was a milky red color. When we tested orange juice for glucose, the result was a very milky orange-red color. None of our other orange juice experiments resulted in a positive result. This evidence shows that oranges are made up of mostly glucose (monosaccharides). The first time we did the starch experiment, the positive result was a dark blue color. When we tested whole wheat bread for starch, the result was a dark purple color. The first time we did the protein experiment, the positive result was a dark purple color. When we tested bread for gelatin, the result was a purple-brown color. This evidence shows that since the color results for these two experiments were like the colors results in the positive experiments, whole wheat bread is mostly made up of starch (polysaccharides) and gelatin (protein). Therefore, oranges are classified as monosaccharides and whole wheat bread is classified as protein or a polysaccharide.

Lab report showing our hypothesis, procedure, and data table. Sorry the iodine drop got in the way!

content

macromolecule -

a large molecule made of many monomers that makes up what is in your food, necessary for every living thing to stay alive
this was a very big part of our lab because the entire lab was based on finding out what macromolecules were in certain foods.
examples : carbohydrates, lipids, protein, and nucleic acids
each macromolecule has a different function, monomer, and are made of different elements

monomer -

building block molecule that can form polymers, which form macromolecules
each macromolecule has a different monomer that it is made of
lipids do not have a monomer, nucleotides are the monomer for nucleic acid, amino acids are the monomer for protein, and monosaccarides are the monomer for carbohydrates
monomers were important in our lab because these make up the macromolecules, meaning the color results in the lab were because of the monomer

carbohydrate -

compound found in food that is made of monosaccarides and stores energy in the body
a monosaccaride (the monomer) is a single sugar molecule (glucose)
two monosaccarides put together forms a disaccaride (sucrose)
thousands of monosaccarides put together form a polysaccaride (grass)
carbs were important in the lab because half of the experiments were testing for carbs (glucose and starch) and we found out that oranges are made of glucose and bread is made of starch
examples : glucose, starch, cellulose, glycogen

protein -

compound found in food that is made of amino acids and has a lot of important functions in the body including storing energy, transporting materials, regulating cell processing, and creating cell structure and enzymes
amino acids help to function everything in the body and are made up carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and the R group
protein was important in this lab because it was one of the macromolecules we tested for and we found out that whole wheat bread has protein in it
examples : keratin, muscle, silk, nuts, beans, insulin

lipid -

compound found in food that stores energy, forms cell membranes, and protects and insulates the body
lipids do not have a monomer, but they are made up of fatty acids and glycerol which form triglycerol, which is made up of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen
lipids were important in this lab because it was one of the macromolecules we tested for and even though we didn't find it in either of the foods, it is a very important food group that does a lot for our body
examples : fat, oil, wax, cholesterol, vitamins

nucleic acid -

compound not found in food (only vitamins), made of nucleotides that store genetic information and transmit DNA
nucleotides are made of phosphate, deoxyribose sugar, and a base
although nucleic acid was not tested in our lab (since they are not in any food), it is extremely important because it carries our genetic information and we need it to function
examples : RNA, DNA

reflection

Since this was the first project/lab of the year, there is obviously a lot to work on in the future, but this was a good starting point. I learned a lot and had a fun time doing the lab with my group.

One thing I thought I did well was taking leadership within the group. I was an active part of them team and did a good portion of the experiments. I asked questions and was on top of my work. I want to continue this into my next project. Another thing I thought I did well was having good time management. We worked efficiently and got everything done with time to spare. We planned out our experiments well, so we did the ones that took the longest in the beginning.

This being the first project, I know I will grow throughout the year. One thing I think I could work on is meshing better with my group. I was unfamiliar with working with them, so I think it will take some time to warm up to them and how they collaborate. Another thing I can work on is staying focused and aware to everything going on around me. There were a lot of different parts in this lab, so it was hard to be on top of everything at the same time. For example, I forgot about the lipid experiment because the product had to sit for 10 minutes and I didn't realize the time was up because I was so focused on another experiment.

While doing this project, our group thrived off of communication. Communication was key because we were all measuring different things and we were constantly asking each other which test tube each liquid goes in and what was already in there. If we hadn't been communicating so much, we could've easily switched the substances and messed up the experiment. I also think we used critical thinking a lot in this lab. There were 16 different experiments that we had to do so it was easy to get mixed up. We did them one at a time and compared our data to our first lab to check if we were finding any positive controls. We stayed calm and did not get overwhelmed.

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