The Nature of Science Web Quest



Biochemistry Web Quest

Your Name_____________________________________________________________

Instructions:

You should do this quest in the order given below. If a link does not appear to be working, you should notify your instructor immediately by email or other means.

Note that you can go directly to any of these links by pressing down the control button (Ctrl) and clicking with the left mouse button. Some of the links may require a special piece of software like Java or QuickTime. If so, then you should install these free programs on your own computer or complete the activity on campus where these programs are already installed. It is ultimately your responsibility to make sure you are working on a computer that is capable of displaying all the relevant animations and such in these links.

1. To test for QuickTime click here (). You should see a tooth.

2. To test for Java animations click here (). You should see a demo of the universe zooming in closer and closer to Earth and eventually zooming into the atomic makeup of a plant’s cells.

You should type all your answers into this document. All your answers should be in italics (like this), or you can use a colored font if you prefer (like this). This will make it much easier for your instructor to find your responses. Wherever you see an asterisk (*), then there is a question that you need to answer. You may email as an attachment or hand in a hard copy.

Now, let’s get started.

1. Go to this link ().

a) Do you know what a wiki-space is? If you do not, go to this site () and read the short description.

b) If necessary, return to the Wikipedia link above. Do you trust the information on this site? Why or why not?

c) A lot of people like to reference Wikipedia as a source of good information. Why do you think so many others trust the information on this site?

d) Read the definition for biochemistry given in the first paragraph. List the 4 types of molecules (often called biomolecules) mentioned here that biochemists study?

e) Click on the first biomolecule (or just go here - ) and note the picture that shows. What is the name of the biomolecule shown in the first figure on this page? Note that this molecule is similar to hemoglobin (the protein in your blood that transports oxygen to your tissues).

f) Go back to the definition of biochemistry, and click on the next biomolecule mentioned (or just go here - ). What is the name of the molecule shown in the picture on the right AND where is it commonly found?

g) Again, go back to the definition of biochemistry and click on the next biomolecule (or just go here - ). What is the name of the molecule shown below that can also be seen in the first figure on this page? You can enlarge the image on this link by just clicking on it. Note that this molecule, and other similar molecules, is found in butter and in your adipose tissues (fat cells).

[pic]

h) What other molecule in this figure looks most similar to the molecule above?

i) Search Google to figure out what this molecule is most commonly used for.

j) Return to the definition of biochemistry once more and read the second paragraph. Click on the word polymers, and read the first paragraph to get a definition for polymer. What does the word polymer mean (from the original Greek)?

k) Based on this Greek definition only, think of an object in your everyday experience that could be called a polymer. ________________________.

l) Now, when a biochemist uses the word polymer, usually the individual parts that make up the polymer (called monomers) are either identical or at least very similar. Can you think of an object in your everyday experience that would fit this definition?

m) Finally, searching through more of the Wikipedia site (or any other websites if you wish), find out what monomers are used to assemble the 4 types of biomolecules you mentioned above and list them in the blanks below. If you are still unsure about what a monomer is, click on the word monomer in the last Wikipedia page you just saw.

Biomolecule (polymer) Monomer

Proteins _________________________

Carbohydrates _________________________

Lipids _________________________

Nucleic acids _________________________

Biochemists study what you might expect from the word: where chemistry and biology intersect. Many biochemists study how chemicals interact with the body. As we’ve already discussed in this course, understanding drug chemistry is important in Forensics. Let’s take a brief look at how drugs affect the brain as an example of what a biochemist might study.

Background:

1. Look up dopamine & serotonin. In general, what are each of these chemicals (neurotransmitters) important for in the body?

Google search “Mouse Party” or go directly to the website: When you get here, press PLAY. Note: you don’t have to have sound. The words are written on the screen after they are said (of course you miss the cool music but that’s ok)!

You may do the following in any order. Move your mouse (it is represented by a human hand) over the mice and pick up the mouse. Drag it to the chair and click again to drop it. You’ll notice the drug name appears below highlighted in teal. As you go through the questions, click next and listen or read along.

LSD

1. LSD resembles the chemical ____ _______________ and binds to _____ ____________________ receptors.

2. TRUE or FALSE: LSD reacts to the receptors in the brain the same way each time. EXPLAIN.

COCAINE

1. What does cocaine do and how is dopamine affected?

2. Why are cocaine abusers fidgety?

ALCOHOL

1. What two things does alcohol do to cause sedation?

2. Name 2 of the 3 areas of the brain affected by alcohol.

METHAMPHETAMINE

1. Meth mimics what biochemical?

2. What do the meth molecules do to these biochemicals and how do the transporters respond?

3. How are cells overstiumulated then?

4. Why is meth so addictive?

MARIJUANA

1. First off, what does inhibit mean?

2. What does THC do?

3. Does the body break down THC quickly? How is this different than the natural chemical, anandamide?

ECSTASY

1. Ecstasy mimics what chemical found in the body?

2. How does Ecstasy affect the serotonin transporters?

3. How is overstimulation of the cell caused?

4. Is Ecstasy addictive? Explain.

HEROIN

1. Heroin turns off _______ ____________ receptors and allows what?

2. Our body’s natural opiates do what?

What do you notice most drugs have in common in terms of how they affect the brain?

KEY

1. Go to this link ().

* Do you know what a wiki-space is? If you do not, go to this site () and read the short description.

answers may vary

* If necessary, return to the Wikipedia link above. Do you trust the information on this site? Why or why not?

answers may vary

* A lot of people like to reference Wikipedia as a source of good information. Why do you think so many others trust the information on this site?

answers may vary

* Read the definition for biochemistry given in the first paragraph. List the 4 types of molecules (often called biomolecules) mentioned here that biochemists study?

proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids,

* Click on the first biomolecule (or just go here - ) and note the picture that shows. What is the name of the biomolecule shown in the first figure on this page? Note that this molecule is similar to hemoglobin (the protein in your blood that transports oxygen to your tissues).

Myoglobin

* Go back to the definition of biochemistry, and click on the next biomolecule mentioned (or just go here - ). What is the name of the molecule shown in the picture on the right AND where is it commonly found?

Lactose & found in milk

* Again, go back to the definition of biochemistry and click on the next biomolecule (or just go here - ). What is the name of the molecule shown below that can also be seen in the first figure on this page? You can enlarge the image on this link by just clicking on it. Note that this molecule, and other similar molecules, is found in butter and in your adipose tissues (fat cells).

A triglyceride

[pic]

* What other molecule in this figure looks most similar to the molecule above?

Phospholipid

* Search Google to figure out what this molecule is most commonly used for.

Phospholipids are found in biological membranes.

* Return to the definition of biochemistry once more and read the second paragraph. Click on the word polymers, and read the first paragraph to get a definition for polymer. What does the word polymer mean (from the original Greek)?

“large molecule (macromolecule) composed of repeating structural units”

Polymer means “many parts”

* Based on this Greek definition only, think of an object in your everyday experience that could be called a polymer. ___answers may vary _____(they could say “car” even because a car has ”many parts”)________________.

* Now, when a biochemist uses the word polymer, usually the individual parts that make up the polymer (called monomers) are either identical or at least very similar. Can you think of an object in your everyday experience that would fit this definition?

answers may vary – “car” obviously doesn’t fit this definition any more…some sort of “chain” might work etc.

* Finally, searching through more of the Wikipedia site (or any other websites if you wish), find out what monomers are used to assemble the 4 types of biomolecules you mentioned above and list them in the blanks below. If you are still unsure about what a monomer is, click on the word monomer in the last Wikipedia page you just saw.

Biomolecule (polymer) Monomer

Proteins ____amino acids______________

Carbohydrates ___monosaccharides (they might

say glucose

Lipids _____fatty acids ____________

Nucleic acids _____nucleotides______________

Biochemists study what you might expect from the word: where chemistry and biology intersect. Many biochemists study how chemicals interact with the body. As we’ve already discussed in this course, understanding drug chemistry is important in Forensics. Let’s take a brief look at how drugs affect the brain as an example of what a biochemist might study.

Background:

Look up dopamine & serotonin. In general, what are each of these chemicals (neurotransmitters) important for in the body?

Neurotransmitters are “chemicals that are used to relay, amplify and modulate signals between a neuron and another cell.” They have many important functions in the brain. Dopamine has roles “in behavior and cognition, motor activity, motivation and reward, inhibition of prolactin production (involved in lactation), sleep, mood, attention, and learning.” Serotonin is involved in “the modulation of anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep, sexuality, appetite, and metabolism, as well as stimulating vomiting” ().

Google search “Mouse Party” or go directly to the website: When you get here, press PLAY. Note: you don’t have to have sound. The words are written on the screen after they are said (of course you miss the cool music but that’s ok)!

You may do the following in any order. Move your mouse (it is represented by a human hand) over the mice and pick up the mouse. Drag it to the chair and click again to drop it. You’ll notice the drug name appears below highlighted in teal. As you go through the questions, click next and listen or read along.

LSD

3. LSD resembles the chemical ____serotonin_______________ and binds to _____ serotonin ____________________ receptors.

4. TRUE or FALSE: LSD reacts to the receptors in the brain the same way each time. EXPLAIN. Sometimes LSD inhibits receptors and sometimes it excites them.

COCAINE

3. What does cocaine do and how is dopamine affected?

Cocaine blocks the transporters of dopamine, trapping dopamine, causing dopamine to continually bind to dopamine receptors, causing overstiumulation of the cell

4. Why are cocaine abusers fidgety?

Cocaine affects the area of the brain involving voluntary movements.

ALCOHOL

3. What two things does alcohol do to cause sedation?

Inhibits GABA receptors

Binds to glutamate receptors and prevents glutamate from exciting the cell

4. Name 2 of the 3 areas of the brain affected by alcohol.

Areas involved in memory function, decision making & impulse control

METHAMPHETAMINE

5. Meth mimics what biochemical?

dopamine

6. What do the meth molecules do to these biochemicals and how do the transporters respond?

Meth forces dopamine out of the cell and the transporters shoot the dopamine out of the cell into the synapse.

7. How are cells over stimulated then?

The excess dopamine trapped binds to the receptors over and over and causes overstimulation of the cell.

8. Why is meth so addictive?

It works on the brains reward mechanism.

MARIJUANA

4. First off, what does inhibit mean?

5. What does THC do?

Binds to receptors that would normally inhibit excess dopamine allowing dopamine to “squirt” into the cell

6. Does the body break down THC quickly? How is this different than the natural chemical, anandamide?

No, THC stays in the body a while and keeps binding. Anandamide is broken down quickly by the body.

ECSTASY

5. Ecstasy mimics what chemical?

Serotonin

6. How does Ecstasy affect the serotonin transporters?

Ecstasy alters the transporter which becomes confused and shoots Serotonin OUT of the cell

7. How is overstimulation of the cell caused?

The excess serotonin binds over and over to the receptors.

8. Is Ecstasy addictive? Explain.

Ecstasy is slightly addictive because it indirectly reacts with the reward pathway.

HEROIN

3. Heroin turns off _______dopamine____________ receptors and allows what? Dopamine to flood the synapse

4. Our body’s natural opiates do what? Kill pain

What do you notice most drugs have in common in terms of how they affect the brain?

Many drugs interfere with receptors and interfere with the normal transport of chemicals like neurotransmitters. This may result in excessive excitation of cells of neutrotransmitters like serotonin or dopamine bind over and over again to receptors. Or the drug may prevent any excitation. This produces the “desired” effect that the person feels.

[pic]

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