All animals have to eat food in order to supply nutrients and energy to their body cells. These baby New Holland Honeyeaters (left) are well-adapted to being fed. They are always hungry.
Animals need a digestive system to transform large food molecules into small nutrient molecules that can be absorbed into their blood stream. Parent New Holland Honeyeater (below) feeding young. |
Macronutrient Research
There's an old saying, "You are what you eat." In some senses, this is literally true! When we eat food, we take in the large biological molecules found in the food, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids (such as fats), and nucleic acids (such as DNA), and use them to power our cells and build our bodies. Dive into the different types of macromolecules, what they are made up of, and how they are built up and broken down.
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Types of Biological Macromolecules
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Tasks 1 and 2 Laboratory Skills
Use indicators to distinguish between solutions: acids, salts, bases.
Use materials and processes safely in the laboratory
Use materials and processes safely in the laboratory
Task 3 Chemical tests to identify some macronutrients
Glucose Powder
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Starch Powder
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Olive Oil
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Egg white
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Each pair of students has been provided with separate samples of glucose powder, starch powder, olive oil and egg white ( a protein).
Observation of physical properties.
Place very small quantities of each nutrient in a petri dish and observe each beneath a binocular microscope. Click on this link for review of how to use a binocular microscope.
Record observations of colour, state, shape at room temperature.
Test for solubility in water.
Add 10mL of water to each sample in the petri dish, stir and observe again under the binocular microscope.
Chemical Tests
Carbohydrates (sugars and starch) and proteins can be detected by the use of an indicator, which is a chemical that produces a characteristic colour when a particular substance is present.
SAFETY: Always wear safety goggles when working with chemicals. Read the labels on the bottles of the reagents, follow instructions and procede respectfully.
Observation of physical properties.
Place very small quantities of each nutrient in a petri dish and observe each beneath a binocular microscope. Click on this link for review of how to use a binocular microscope.
Record observations of colour, state, shape at room temperature.
Test for solubility in water.
Add 10mL of water to each sample in the petri dish, stir and observe again under the binocular microscope.
Chemical Tests
Carbohydrates (sugars and starch) and proteins can be detected by the use of an indicator, which is a chemical that produces a characteristic colour when a particular substance is present.
SAFETY: Always wear safety goggles when working with chemicals. Read the labels on the bottles of the reagents, follow instructions and procede respectfully.
2017_t1_w01_marconutrient_tests.pdf | |
File Size: | 65 kb |
File Type: |
Benedict's Solution - Positive tests for glucose
Ethanol emulsion - positive test for lipids
Biuret Solution - Positive Test for Protein
Task 2 Observation and description of the organs of the Allium cepa
For this task each pair of students will work with one spring onion, botanical name: Allium cepa . You will work from the visible anatomical scale, to the microscopic tissue scale and into the chemical molecular scale.
You will learn the anatomy of the plant, its specialised cells and tissues and then test for the chemicals that are necessary for life.
Each student is responsible for following instructions, contributing to the tasks and recording their own observations and explanations.
You will learn the anatomy of the plant, its specialised cells and tissues and then test for the chemicals that are necessary for life.
Each student is responsible for following instructions, contributing to the tasks and recording their own observations and explanations.
Botanical Drawing of a longitudinal section of a Spring Onion with main organs labelled.
(This is an example of a botanical drawing. In this image the three spring onions each have a flower.) Longitudinal section of the Allium cepa Carefully and neatly cut a longitudinal section to reveal the anatomy of the plant. Draw, identify and label the following organs;
Extension: Explain the function of each of these organs in relation to the life process of photosynthesis. Explain the function of each of these organs in relation to the life process of respiration. |
http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/Photfile%20Images%5CLinedrawing%20Allium%20fistulosum.gif
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Conducting chemical tests for macronutrients
2017_t1_w01_report_on_testing_for_glucose_starch_protein_in_spring_onions.docx | |
File Size: | 91 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Analysis of data gathered
Design and draw an InfoGraphic to show the nutrients present in different the parts of aspring onion. You may use the spare page, or design a digital InfoGraphic.
One of your assessment tasks is to design and build an infographic so here is a chance to practice visualising information and data.
One of your assessment tasks is to design and build an infographic so here is a chance to practice visualising information and data.
Check out this site both for InfoGraphics and data on nutrients in spring onions!
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Task 3 Science Inquiry Skills - turning an experiment into an investigation
2017_t1_w01_science_investigation_skills.docx | |
File Size: | 87 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Click on the link to find out how to "visualise the hypothesis".Scroll to "Visualising the Hypothesis"
Build an InfoGraphic showing the Macronutrients in Different Parts of the Spring Onion.