Embedded Files
In this lesson, we will be learning about protein in our foods.
In this lesson, we will be learning about protein in our foods.
Here are some questions we will consider:
What are plant and animal proteins made of?
How are the proteins the same and different?
Can people who eat only plant-based food get enough protein?
Do plant and animal sources of proteins provide the same amount of energy?
Can a plant-based diet help people with health conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes?
Animal and Plant Protein Labs
Animal and Plant Protein Labs
Please read through the background information below before beginning the labs, which are linked at the bottom of this page.
Background Information
Background Information
What are plant proteins made of?
What are plant proteins made of?
Plants produce glucose and oxygen through photosynthesis.
Glucose is made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen - C6H12O6
Glucose is stored as carbohydrates and can be used to make amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein.
Most plant proteins are used as storage in seeds. At the end of seed development, the protein storage vacuoles will be completely filled with protein. This provides nourishment for the next-generation growing plant.
Protein shapes determines their functions. These storage proteins are often made of many repeating units packed tightly into a globe shape.
Each of the 20 standard amino acids has the same basic structure, but different side groups give each one unique properties.
Not every plant can produce every amino acid.
What are animal proteins made of?
What are animal proteins made of?
When animals eat plants, they use the glucose produced through photosynthesis and manufactured proteins for their own sustenance and growth.
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen from glucose is combined with other elements to make many things, including amino acids.
Most animal proteins are in the form of muscles and used for movement.
Proteins are the workhorses of the body. Their shape determines their function. Muscle proteins slide together to contract. Cilia and flagella (whip-like organs that aid in movement) are made of protein. Enzymes are made of protein.
Look at the amino acids above. They are the building blocks for both plant and animal proteins.
Where did the elements (carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen) to make them come from?
Pea Plant Protein
Pea Plant Protein
Rabbit Muscle Protein
Click on each picture above. You can zoom in, zoom out, and rotate each structure with your cursor.
The sequence of amino acids are listed at the top of each picture. Highlight a single amino acid, and it will light up in the structure.
The two proteins have different shapes because they have different functions. The pea plant protein is a storage molecule. The rabbit muscle protein is used for movement. The rabbit muscle protein shown is about twice as large as the pea plant protein.
How are plant and animal proteins the same and different?
How are plant and animal proteins the same and different?
All proteins have the same building blocks -- chains of amino acids.
Of the 20 standard amino acids, human bodies can make 11 of them from scratch. The other 9 must be obtained through diet. These are considered the “essential” amino acids.
Most essential amino acids can be found in animal proteins such as meat, eggs and milk. Notice that the animal protein to the right has the bright pink amino acids that are missing from the plant protein.
Can people who only eat plant-based food get enough protein?
Can people who only eat plant-based food get enough protein?
By combining plant proteins and knowing which plants supply essential amino acids, people can easily get enough protein through a plant-based diet.
Do plant and animal sources of proteins provide the same amount of energy?
Do plant and animal sources of proteins provide the same amount of energy?
When humans eat “lower on the food chain” there is much more available energy.
Plants can support 10 people as primary consumers, or 1 person as a secondary consumer.
Animal and Plant Proteins and Type 2 Diabetes
Animal and Plant Proteins and Type 2 Diabetes
B. Azimate, et al.
PMC full text:Curr Dev Nutr. 2017 Apr; 1(4): e000299.
Published online 2017 Mar 15. doi: 10.3945/cdn.116.000299
Insulin Resistance and Protein Intake
This graph shows results from a study conducted with 548 middle aged and older adults who gave detailed reports on what they had eaten over six different 24-hour time periods. Some people ate a lot of protein and some did not. People in the study got their protein from a variety of plant and animal sources.
Participants were also tested for fasting glucose and insulin levels in order to calculate insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a major predictor of type 2 diabetes. A low score is healthier.
Which factors lead to the highest risk for type 2 diabetes?
Which factors lead to the lowest risk?
If you were using data from this graph to support an argument, what would your premise be?
Animal and Plant Protein Labs
Animal and Plant Protein Labs
These labs are designed to answer the Driving Question: Is there protein in food that does not come from meat?
Protein Discovery Lab - Students sample mystery foods and consider protein content and taste.
Protein Data Collection - Students collect data on a variety of foods to compare protein content, serving size, and cost per serving.
Plant Protein Recipe Lab - Student groups each make a different plant-based recipe and compare outcomes.
Comprehension Questions:
Comprehension Questions:
1. What are the building blocks of plant and animal proteins?
2. Where does the body get the raw materials to produce protein?
3. How can people who eat only plant-based food get adequate protein?
4. How might the ecosystem be impacted if people got more of their daily calories from plant-based proteins?
5. Can a plant-based diet help people with health conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes?
6. Is there protein in food that does not come from meat?
Page updated
Report abuse