Unit 3
Biochemistry
UNIT Biochemistry (15 Days/16 days)
Enduring Understanding: All organisms and matter are composed of atoms. Certain molecules make up the majority of organisms. Organisms operate best under specific chemical conditions.Essential Questions
What is matter and organisms made of? (1 Day)
What are the molecules that make up organisms? (1 day) / · SC.912.L.18.1 Describe the basic molecular structures and primary functions of the four major categories of biological macromolecules.
o Students will recognize and distinguish between the following based upon the hierarchy of organization of organisms: atom, molecule, cells, tissue, organs, organ system, and organism.
o Students will recognize and provide labels for models of a neutral atoms, ions, and isotopes.
o Students will differentiate between atoms, elements, molecules and compounds.
o Students will identify the molecules that make up organisms: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids.
How does carbon form the base of organic molecules? (1 day) / · SC.912.P.8.12 Describe the properties of the carbon atom that make the diversity of carbon components possible.
o Students will determine chemical characteristics and reactivity based on electron configuration.
o Explain how electron configuration determines covalent and ionic bonds.
How do the properties of water enable organisms to survive? (2 days) / · SC.912.L.18.12 Discuss the special properties of water that contribute to Earth’s suitability as an environment for life: cohesive behavior, ability to moderate temperature, expansion upon freezing, and versatility as a solvent.
o Students will explain the benefits to an organism of water’s solvent characteristics.
o Students will describe how water moderates the temperature of an organism.
o Students will describe how cohesion is useful to organisms.
How do proteins form? (2days)
What are the levels of protein structure? (1 day)
How are proteins used in organisms? (1 day) / · SC.912.L.18.4 Describe the structures of proteins and amino acids. Explain the functions of proteins in living organisms. Identify some reactions that amino acids undergo. Relate the structure and functions of enzymes.
o Students will relate amino acids to protein structure.
o Students will describe how amino acids form proteins.
o Students will recognize that genes in DNA code for proteins.
o Students will describe the different levels of protein structure.
o Students will identify the functions of proteins in organisms.
o Students will explain that enzymes are specialized proteins.
What factors can affect the rate of a chemical reaction and how do they affect it? (3days)
Required Topic: Factors influencing reactions (2-3 Days) / · SC.912.L.18.11 Explain the role of enzymes as catalysts that lower the activation energy of biochemical reactions. Identify factors, such as pH and temperature, and their effect on enzyme activity.
o Students will demonstrate the affects of pH and temperature on enzyme activity.
· SC. 912.P.12.12 Explain how various factors, such as concentration, temperature, and presence of a catalyst affect the rate of a chemical reaction.
o Students will demonstrate that the rate of chemical reactions depend on reactant concentration or temperature, or the presence of a catalyst.
Required Topic: Factors influencing reactions – Suggested Lab: WARDS Cheesemaking Your Whey Lab
Also address:
o SC.912.N.1.2 Describe and explain what characterizes science and its methods.
o SC.912.N.1.3 Recognize that the strength or usefulness of a scientific claim is evaluated through scientific argumentation, which depends on critical and logical thinking, and the active consideration of alternative scientific explanations to explain the data presented.
o SC.912.N.1.6 Describe how scientific inferences are drawn from scientific observations and provide examples from the content being studied.
o SC.912.N.4.2 Weigh the merits of alternative strategies for solving a specific societal problem by comparing a number of different costs and benefits, such as human, economic, and environmental.