You Are What You Eat - bowenbiology.files.wordpress.com€¦ · Web view10/01/2016 · You Are What You Eat! Part Deux. Digestion and Biosynthesis: The Role Play. Part 1. The Role
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You Are What You Eat!Part Deux
Digestion and Biosynthesis: The Role Play
Part 1. The Role Play.
Your group will receive three plant proteins, as shown in the diagram below. Each protein is composed of monomers called amino acids. The different amino acids are represented by each color.
Clear a large space on your lab tables and set up the table as shown in the chart below. Use an index card to label each “zone”Plant Amino
Acids used to make
cow proteins
Cow Amino Acids used to make
human proteins
Human
For today’s activity, you will play the role of an ENZYME. Enzymes are organic molecules that help speed up chemical reactions. Because of their unique structure, enzymes are very specific in the functions that they carry out inside an organism’s cells. Each enzyme does a specific job, and only that job! Carefully read the directions on the role sheet for your enzyme. Make sure you understand your role for this activity. You must follow the instruction for your job exactly.
When all members of your group are ready, and your materials are set up, you may begin! Keep practicing until your group can disassemble and rebuild each step quickly.
Be sure to listen and follow the teacher’s directions. There may be some surprises!
1. Describe the role of a plant, a cow and a human in a simple food chain.
2. How do the proteins in the plant, cow and human differ? How are they the same?
3. What happens to the amino acids from a plant protein before they are used by the cow?
4. What happens to the amino acids from a cow protein before it is used by the human?
5. What process is being illustrated by the breaking apart of the amino acids between each organism? Which parts of this activity are examples of biosynthesis?
6. Each of you had a specific job to complete as an enzyme during this exercise. Describe some of the things that happened as you worked through this activity.
What was your role in this simulation?
Did you ever find yourself with nothing to do? When did this occur?
What are some things that may have sped up the process for YOUR job?
Why were you not allowed to make or break down proteins for different organisms at the same time?
When your teacher told you that you could only use ONE HAND to complete your task, what happened to the process? Could this happen in real life? What factors could cause an enzyme to not function correctly?
In the box below, summarize what you have learned about enzymes.