Macromolecules Lab Report

The protein molecules in many foods provide the amino acid building blocks required by our own cells to produce new proteins. To determine whether a sample contains protein, a reagent called Biuret solution is used. Biuret solution contains copper ions. However, the chemical state of the copper ions in Biuret solution causes them to form a chemical complex with the peptide bonds between amino acids (when present), changing the color of the solution. Biuret solution is normally blue, but changes to pink when short peptides are present and to violet when long polypeptides are present.

If feeding efficiency and reproduction have a direct correlation, and a population started with equal proportions of individuals with each of three feeding types, metal spoon, metal knife, and plastic fork, the frequency of the population with metal spoons as their feeding structure will increase in the next generation. While the frequency of metal knifes and plastic forks will decrease. Furthermore, since the organisms with the metal spoon feeding structure have a higher fitness level, this population will evolve by natural selection to a point where the metal spoon phenotype will be in abundant. While the organisms with metal knifes and plastic forks phenotypes will decrease in frequency due to the lack of reproduction. Eventually, if this population persist overtime, most of the organisms, if not all, will have the metal spoon phenotype, while very few, if not any, will have the metal knife or the plastic fork phenotype.

Perform a series of accurate tests on biological molecules to detect the presence of carbohydrates and proteins, as well as the action of an enzyme on specific molecules.

All living things contain some form of organic macromolecules including: Lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. All of these organic molecules are alike in the sense that is they are made up of bonded elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and to smaller quantities nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. The macromolecules each contain large long chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms and often consists of repeating smaller molecules bonded together in a repeating pattern (polymers). To test whether a specific solid white substance is a protein is simple due to the unique chains found in the respective type of macromolecule. To test if the substance is a carbohydrate, two tests could be performed on separate samples of the object. First,

Biomolecules are present in every living organism. Larger biomolecules (macromolecules) consists of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. In layman’s terms, proteins are long chains of amino acids that have many functions such as, providing structural support and regulating many body processes. Lipids are the scientific term used for fats. There are many different types of fats, but they all share one common characteristic: They are not soluble in water. Lipids provide protection and insulation to organs and also act as an energy source. Carbohydrates are made up of carbon, hydrogen,

In doing the lab, one was able to determine the characteristics of the given solutions, containing different macromolecules, whilst doing the multiple tests. The tests performed were,

The mole is a convenient unit for analyzing chemical reactions. Avogadro’s number is equal to the mole. The mass of a mole of any compound or element is the mass in grams that corresponds to the molecular formula, also known as the atomic mass. In this experiment, you will observe the reaction of iron nails with a solution of copper (II) chloride and determine the number of moles involved in the reaction. You will determine the number of moles of copper produced in the reaction of iron and copper (II) chloride, determine the number of moles of iron used up in the reaction of iron and copper (II) chloride, determine the ratio of moles of iron to moles of copper, and determine the number of atoms and formula units involved in

A cell, the building block of all living organisms, is composed of four fundamental biomolecules: proteins, carbohydrates, sugars and lipids. Proteins provide a vast amount of functions cells such as they serve as enzymes, provide structural support to cells, and act as antibodies. Reagents are used to spark a chemical reaction. The reagent used to detect protein traces in a substance is Biuret’s. Biuret’s will turn purple if proteins are present and blue if they are none. Biuret’s copper particles, have a charge of +2, are diminished to a charge of +1 when peptide bonds, which are in proteins, are present, creating the color change. Polysaccharides, which are carbohydrates, are most notably known to provide energy to the body, but they also help in breaking down fatty acids. Iodine is the reagent used to determine whether a substance has starch in it. The iodine/starch complex has energy levels that are only for retaining unmistakable light, giving the complex its extraordinarily dark black-blue shade. If there is no starch found, iodine will remain its natural yellowish-brownish color, but if starch is present, iodine will turn blue-black. Monosaccharides, which are sugars, like polysaccharides, provide the body with energy. To detect monosaccharides, the reagent, Benedict’s, is used. Benedict’s reagent is added to a test tube, then it is placed in

I learned that anaerobic is an organism or tissue that is living in the absence of air or oxygen while aerobic is involves the organism or tissue receiving and requiring air. Furthermore I learned about the anaerobic cellular respiration that uses an electron acceptor rather than oxygen to complete metabolism using electron transport-based chemiosmosis. Also in this reading I learned about fermentation which is an anaerobic process in which energy can be released from glucose even though oxygen is not available.

The oxidation number of an atom of any free element is ZERO. Means to say there is only one kind of atom present, no charge.

Dehydration-synthesis is a reaction that occurs to form different types of macromolecules. It is a reaction that leaves a macromolecule structure along the lines of developing its own specific function in a living organism. The 4 most common ones are carbohydrates which includes monosaccharides and polysaccharides, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids (Mack 2012). Scientists identify different types of macromolecules to achieve a better understanding on how they function in our bodies. This can be achieved by studying their chemical properties and structure.

An association between enzyme production, gene copy number, and gene evolution was explored by conducting analysis of the salivary amylase enzyme, AMY1A gene copy number, and the ancestral starch consumption in Homo Sapiens (Tracey 2017, p.22). It was hypothesized that the relative amount of starch consumption was very high for my personal ancestral diet, thus my AMY1 diploid gene copy number in my genome and salivary amylase concentration would be significantly higher than the population mean. With a population of 28 subjects (n=28), individual saliva samples were collected and compared to a calibration curve to determine the approximate amylase concentration by analyzing absorbance values. Individual samples of buccal cheek cells were

2. (5 pts) List and explain the names and affiliations of the various characters/stakeholders in this story – I’m looking for us to use the story to map out the complexities that are generally associated with solving public health puzzles – the stakeholders you list and explain here should apply to many of the cases we consider going forward.

1. Carbohydrates: Are Molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and they include sugars and starches.

B) Proteins Proteins are made up of chains of amino acids. Each protein folds into a characteristic three dimensional shape that is essential to its function. They perform a variety of functions in cells and are probably the most diverse macromolecule in living systems. The Biuret test detects the presence of proteins and short peptides (short chains of amino acids). Biuret reagent contains a strong solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and a very small amount of dilute copper sulfate solution. The reagent changes color in the presence of a protein because the amino groups in the amino acids react with the copper ions producing a violet color. A negative result is blue.