Web Activities
UNIT 1: METABOLIC PROCESSES
Chapter 2 – Cellular Respiration
Page Number
Question
p. 116
Section 2.2 questions
21. (c) One class of metabolic disorders is caused by defective
mitochondria. Research at the library or on the Internet to find out
about two mitochondrial diseases. Describe the symptoms of the disorders,
the part(s) of the mitochondria that are defective, and the treatments
that are available for the conditions.
Mitochondrial
Disease
Mitochondrial Disease, the site of the United Mitochondrial Disease
Foundation, briefly describes 43 diseases. It provides links for each
one with further information. General treatment information can be
accessed from the foundation’s home page.
General
Aspects of Mitochondrial Disease
Some General Aspects of Mitochondrial Disease are outlined on this
site by the University of Virginia.
p. 116
Section 2.2 questions
22. Several vitamins, especially the B vitamins, play key roles
in energy metabolism. A number of vitamin B deficiencies, if left unchecked,
can cause serious illness. Conduct library and/or Internet research
to answer the following questions.
a. What is meant by the term vitamin B complex? List the
names of the vitamins that are a part of this group.
b. Why are these vitamins called water-soluble vitamins?
What other water-soluble vitamins are there?
c. Select two B vitamins and briefly describe:
i. their function in energy metabolism;
ii. functions not directly associated with energy metabolism;
iii. good natural sources;
iv. deficiency symptoms.
Vitamin
B Complex
The Vitamin B Complex Web page lists all the B vitamins and their
functions, and describes the symptoms that result when we don’t
get enough. It is written by a vitamin supplement company.
The
B Vitamins
The B Vitamins is a section of a natural healing course offered at
the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. It details
the B vitamins, and provides summary tables of their functions, deficiency
symptoms, and natural sources.
p. 116
Section 2.2 Questions
23. Hummingbirds have the highest metabolic rate of any animal.
a. Conduct library or Internet research to complete the
comparison chart shown in Table 4 (in the Student Text).
b. Determine the mass of hamburger that a human would have
to consume in one day in order to obtain as much energy as a hummingbird
uses in one day.
Hummingbird.net
Hummingbird.net is a site belonging to a huge “hummer”
fan that has assembled all kinds of interesting information. Hint:
Look under “answers” at the top of the home page to find
basic biology info.
List
of Facts about Hummingbirds
This fascinating List of Facts about Hummingbirds was written by a
lawyer who likes to watch these birds in his backyard.
Animal
Bytes: Hummingbird
San Diego Zoo’s excellent essay on the Little Birds with Big
Appeal includes colour photos and info on size, appetites, feathers,
mating, flying, and conservation.
The
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is a species native to Southern Ontario.
The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council’s article
includes sections on appearance, diet, and a list of facts with some
metabolic statistics.
p. 120
Explore an Issue – Take a Stand: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
(FAS)
Statement: Women should not drink even small amounts of alcoholic beverages
while pregnant.
- Conduct research to learn more about the issue.
National
Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome’s site
recommends that pregnant women do not drink any alcohol. This essay
outlines why.
Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome
This balanced, easy to understand presentation of Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome describes the causes, occurrence, and symptoms of the condition.
The site comes from the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
About
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
About Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a site maintained by the US Centre
for Disease Control and Prevention. It includes some interesting
facts; such as how much the US spends each year on health care for
the syndrome. Its FAQ section directly addresses the issue of whether
women should drink during pregnancy.
The
Canadian Health Network
The Canadian Health Network compiles information about health from
Health Canada and many other sources and lists it on this central
site. Use the search feature to research fetal alcohol syndrome.
The site includes links to statistics on Canadian use of alcohol
during pregnancy, basic information on the syndrome, and some novel
ideas for change.
p. 124
Section 2.3 questions
Making Connections
14. When Henry Ford built the first Model T in 1908, he expected
it to run on pure ethanol produced by fermenting corn. From 1920 to
1924, the Standard Oil Company in Baltimore produced and sold a mixture
of ethanol and gasoline called gasohol. However, high corn prices and
transportation difficulties terminated the project.
a. Research gasohol on the Internet or at the library. List
three advantages and three disadvantages of gasohol production in
Canada.
b. Comment on the viability of a gasohol industry in Canada.
Alternative
Transportation Fuels
Alternative Transportation Fuels hails from Natural Resources Canada.
It outlines our government’s plan to increase supply and use
of gasohol, with a directory of locations where it is for sale. It
also links to the Canadian Renewable Fuel Association site with lots
of information on gasohol’s advantages, and an excellent question
and answer section.
How
About Driving on Booze?
How About Driving on Booze? “Think twice,” says this retired
professor from Lakehead University in his opinion column. The article
gives a good description of how gasohol is made and an argument for
why its use in Canada is actually bad for the environment.
Alcohol
as Fuel
The online magazine, Canadian Driver, has published a practical article
on Alcohol as Fuel. Written for car drivers by a master mechanic,
it calmly explains the disadvantages and advantages of gasohol, and
the current options for its use..
p. 124
Section 2.3 questions
15. Marathon runners have discovered that taking walk breaks
during a race may get them to the finish line faster than running all
the way.
a. Using concepts discussed in this sections, explain why
walking breaks may be beneficial to a marathon runner.
b. What is “carbohydrate loading”? How is it
done? Why do some athletes practise carbohydrate loading? List some
of the adverse effects of carbohydrate loading.
Walk
Breaks?
The article Walk Breaks? informs long distance runners about the benefits
of walking for short periods during a long run. Jeff Galloway, an
expert on marathon running, explains why walking makes for a quicker
race time.
Sports
Coach
Sports Coach is a large site for athletes and trainers. It includes
detailed Web pages on: training for long and short distance running;
endurance training; a discussion of aerobic versus anaerobic endurance;
and information on carb-loading.
Carbo-Loading
Diet
Carbo-Loading Diet discusses the pros and cons of this technique and
the reasoning behind it, in easy-to-understand language.
Fueling
the Run
Fueling the Run provides an excellent description of how energy from
food is used in long distance running, and how carbo-loading works.
It compares metabolic components to a car engine, matches, and lighter
fluid! This Web page is on the Sportsmart Web site, created by the
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
p. 124
Section 2.3 questions
17. Conduct library and/or Internet research to answer the
following questions:
a. How do long-distance runners make use of the lactate
threshold in their training?
b. What is blood doping? What are the perceived metabolic
benefits of this practice? What are some of the dangers associated
with blood doping?
The
Lactate Threshold
A physiology professor and sports enthusiast describes the ins and outs
of lactate in The Lactate Threshold. He describes what happens in muscle
cells during exercise, how and why lactate can accumulate, and the influence
of training.
Anaerobic
Threshold
Anaerobic Threshold: What it is, why you should avoid it, and how to
train to do just that. This article is from Rice University’s
sports medicine site.
The
Most Important Measure for Endurance Training
The Most Important Measure for Endurance Training has good descriptions
of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism; a graph relating running speed
to anaerobic threshold; simple instructions for finding out your own
threshold; and training suggestions to improve it.
Blood
Doping: Is it Worth it?
Blood Doping: Is it Worth it? In this essay, a biology student in Texas
explains what blood doping is, why it is done, and the problems and
side effects it causes. Also discussed is the controversy surrounding
its use by professional athletes.
Blood
Doping in Sports - Athletes Cheating
This brief but informative article describes blood doping and how it
works, and the harmful side effects that can occur in athletes who undergo
blood doping.
p. 125
Practice – Careers
4. Survey the newspaper or conduct an Internet search to identify
career opportunities in this area.
Science
Careers
Science, one of the leading general science journals in the world,
provides access to Science Careers info, including career fairs and
international job ads.
Alternative
Careers in BioSciences
Alternative Careers in BioSciences is a list of links to science organizations
for ideas in careers in biology besides the run-of-the-mill lab scientist.
This site comes from Yale University.
p. 135
Review
28. The soybean is the seed of the soybean plant. Soy foods
have been a staple part of the Chinese diet for over 4000 years. Research
soybean food products on the Internet.
a. Name five different commercially available soybean food
products.
b. Which of the soy-based foods are produced using a fermentation
process?
c. Name the microorganisms used in the fermentation processes
you described in (b).
d. Outline the process for making one fermented soybean
product.
Soy
Stats 2001
Published by the United Soybean Board, Soy Stats 2001 is a one-stop
source of general info on soy. It has a long list of its many uses,
as well as every statistic you could ever want on soybean agriculture.
South
River Miso
South River Miso is a company that makes all kinds of miso using traditional
methods, and takes pride in explaining the process on their Web site.
Kikkoman
The Web site of Kikkoman, a company that makes flavour enhancers,
provides facts about their most popular product: naturally brewed
soya sauce.
p. 135
Review
31. Drinking alcoholic beverages is legal for individuals in
many countries once they reach a certain age. Laws restricting the sale
and consumption of alcoholic beverages vary from one jurisdiction to
another.
a. Perform Internet or library research to determine the
legal drinking age in various jurisdictions in Canada, the United
States, Britain, and one other European country.
b. Attempt to determine why these jurisdictions have chosen
these particular ages.
c. Research the toxicity of ethanol in alcoholic beverages,
such as beer, wine, and whiskey.
d. Write a short position statement on the proposition that
human consumption of alcoholic beverages should be prohibited completely.
Ethanol
A University of Wisconsin chemistry professor is not pleased with
the alcohol consumption on his campus. Here, he gives a detailed description
of Ethanol’s chemical properties, outlines what happens in the
body when it is swallowed, and explains why it affects behaviour.
Legal
Drinking Age
This Web site lists the Legal Drinking Age in countries all over the
world. Written by a sociology professor, it also includes several
Web pages that discuss whether the drinking age in the US is effective,
and whether it should be lowered.
Alcohol
Toxicity
Alcohol Toxicity describes how ethanol consumption can result in poisoning,
with consequences ranging from decreased motor function to coma and
death.
Alcohol
Alcohol, a site maintained by the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission,
provides information on the short and long term effects of drinking,
gives statistics on drinking in Alberta, and discusses Canadian laws
relating to alcohol.
