Macromolecules

For our first unit of biology, we learned about macromolecules. The four macromolecules that we learned about are carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Each one is essential to our daily lives and carry out important functions in our body. Throughout the course of this unit, we completed a number of activities, including a macromolecule webquest along with the macromolecule graphic organizer and Murder and a Meal activity which are presented below, to help enforce the information about macromolecules.

Olivia Cadaoas - Macromolecules food testing video mathews

Olivia Cadaoas - Murder and a Meal Virtual Lab

Food Test & Murder and a Meal Activity

For this activity, we learned about how to indicate any signs of macromolecules in certain foods. To prepare for our Murder and a Meal Activity, we first watched a video on how one uses chemicals to determine if there are macromolecules in specific foods. The video showed someone testing different food groups and seeing if signs of any macromolecules show up. Using the knowledge we obtained from the video, we then were assigned to indicate whether these contents of macromolecules are positive in a victim's stomach, who appeared to have been poisoned through the consumption of their food. We were to make predictions about what the victim ate and discover what restaurant they ate at last in order to find the culprit. From this assignment, I learned how to test for macromolecules in our food and how that can be used in a real-life situation.

Macromolecule Webquest

For this activity, we were assigned to watch a series of videos and answer questions regarding those videos. This helped broaden our knowledge on each macromolecule, their structures, and their roles that they play out.

Olivia Cadaoas - ENG-Macro Molecule Webquest

Olivia Cadaoas - Graphic organizer Macromolecules

Macromolecule Chart

For this assignment, we simply had to find more information about the four macromolecules. This graphic organizer shows the elements that make up each macromolecule, along with their functions, purposes, polymers, monomers, structure, and some examples of each.

Macromolecules

A macromolecule is an organic, complex molecule that all living things need to survive. Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids are all examples of a macromolecule.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates provide the body with short-term energy and improve the digestive system. Its polymer are polysaccharides and the monomer are monosaccharides, which are often referred to as simple sugars. This would include glucose, sucrose, and fructose. Carbohydrates can be found in some dairy products and other foods that contain starch and sugar.

Proteins

Proteins have multiple functions. They are able to build and repair tissue and they play a big role in communication and movement of the body as a messenger. Its monomer are amino acids. Some examples of proteins include keratin, myosins, and actin. Protein can be found in fish, eggs, and nuts.

Lipids

Lipids provide storage for long-term energy and structural support of the membrane. Its monomer is fatty acids, which are the building blocks of neutral fat molecules. Cholesterol and phospholipids are some examples of lipids. They can be found in fats and oils.

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are important because they carry the genetic code and enable protein production. Its monomer is the nucleotide. Some examples of nucleic acids are DNA and RNA.

Monomer

A monomer is a small molecule that can be bonded with other identical molecules to form a polymer. Each macromolecule has a monomer. The building block of carbohydrates is sugar, the building block of protein is amino acids, the building block of lipids are fatty acids, and the building block of nucleic acids is nucleotide.

Polymer

A polymer is composed of macromolecules. It is a long-chain molecule made up of a repeated pattern of monomers.

Standard Test

A standard test is used to determine the expected outcome. In this case, it was used in the Murder and a Meal activity when using the chemicals to find a certain substance in the food.

Indicator Solution

An indicator solution is a solution that visibly shows what chemicals are found in a particular substance usually through a change in color. In the Food Test video, the person used chemicals to determine what macromolecules are in the foods. The indicator solution shows the results of this.

Reflection:

Throughout the course of this unit, I have learned a lot as a student and peer. Although it has been difficult doing school online, I have kept up with all my work. This brings me to say that I felt strongest as a conscientious learner. I was able to efficiently complete my work and turn it in on time. As I am at home doing distanced learning, I may tend to be distracted by my surroundings in my house. When I found myself distracted at times, I held myself accountable for this and tried harder to focus on my work. Additionally, I was able to expand my knowledge through critical thinking by writing thorough CLEAR paragraphs and really analyzing and questioning the concepts. I believe I have improved in writing the CLEAR paragraphs because I have learned to fully understand the key points of this unit. I was able to solve the problems that I faced, such as when I was confused on an assignment, I re-read the instructions and questions again until I knew what to do.

I recognized some areas that I could improve on for the following projects, such as my communication skills and time management. I usually struggle with managing my time and I tend to procrastinate, which is a bad habit that I must recognize when doing so. When I see more assignments piling up, I lost motivation to even start on them. For the next projects, it will be my goal to not procrastinate. Additionally, I will try to reach out and communicate with others when I need help. Sometimes, I get nervous when I want to ask a question, and being on zoom makes it more awkward for me to reach out. I could try other ways to communicate with the teacher, such as chatting in the private zoom chat. I will ask questions when I have them in order to help myself complete my assignments and learn more in class.

Overall, I felt that this was a good project to start off the biology STEM class. There's always room for improvement, and next time, I will review my mistakes from this project to learn and prevent them.

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