Week of 8-18/22

Monday- We continued learning about the organic molecules: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, and Nucleic acids. We also started exploring theories on the Origin of life.

Tuesday- We examined the role and importance of organic molecules to organisms. A lab was conducted today where each group tested for starch with iodine, tested for lipids with brown paper, tested for monosaccharides with Benedict's Solution, and tested for protein using Biuret's.

During this experiment we learned to distinguish among mono, and polysaccharides. We placed special emphasis on the functions and subunits of each organic molecule. An example of this would be-an enzyme is a protein composed of long chains of amino acids that are folded into particular shapes and whose shape determines the specific reaction the enzyme will catalyze.

Wednesday- Today we investigated and described the structure and function of enzymes and explain their importance in biological systems. 2.04

Three important bullets about enzymes are:

1. Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions (catalyst).



2. Enzymes are reusable and specific.



3. Enzymes are affected by such factors as pH, and temperature.
   
   

This information helped us set up an experiment where we measured how fast the enzyme catalase decomposes Hydrogen Peroxide. Chicken Liver and Potato slices where used. The chicken liver produced more pressure and oxygen then the potato after the experiment was run.

Thursday- Continued from Wednesday.

Friday- Test:Goal#1{The Nature of Science objectives 2.01 2.04}