4/5/2021 April 2nd - Laying the groundwork for understanding how cells transfer and transform energy: BIOL_OX-120-1:

X-120-1: Concepts In Biology W/Lab - Spring 2…

April 2nd - Laying the groundwork for

understanding how cells transfer and
transform energy
Today's class is about giving you a few key concepts so you can understand the how cells
transfer and transform energy from one form of energy to another form. The content for today
builds on the concepts we were working on in the "How do things get in and out of cells?"
lecture, so make sure you've gone through that material first.

As is our "new normal" all of our work will be able to be completed "asynchronously" -- that is, you'll
be able to login and do the work necessary for each class period at your own convenience, as long
as you observe all the deadlines for completing assignments and discussion posts. During class time
though, I'll be logged into this zoom meeting room where you can pop in with questions about
content, assignments, or just to say hello. https://emory.zoom.us/j/790279394
(https://emory.zoom.us/j/790279394) .  

Today's Tasks
1) I want to continue to build your intuition about the processes of passive and active transport.
In this video
(https://canvas.emory.edu/courses/69746/pages/Groundwork%20Video%201%3A%20More%20intui
tion%20building.?titleize=0) , I go through the analogies you posted on the discussion board,
and discuss three key ideas that your analogies were trying to capture. My face isn't in this
video, which may or may not make it easier for you to pay attention :)

2) Now, it turns out, concentration gradients (also called chemical gradients) are not the only
gradients that can be established in a cell. Watch this 5min youtube video
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba02v7eoVWQ) to learn about the electrochemical gradient.
You can actually stop this video at 4:20 when he starts talking about voltage and action
potentials. You do not need to know that.

3) Just so we're really clear on this point, remember, it takes energy to set up a gradient (this
applies to concentration gradients, electric gradients and electrochemical gradients). In
contrast, energy is released when things move down a gradient, back towards equilibrium.

4) Now, we're going to get a bit more detailed about this somewhat vague concept of "energy."
Cells store "useable packets of energy" as the molecule ATP. Watch this video

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(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23ZzI6WZS28) to learn (a little) more about ATP. You should

still have questions after this video. Questions are good!

5) Though it seems counterintuitive, being able to formulate a question is actually a sign of

understanding. After you watch the ATP video, either pop back into the zoom meeting
(https://emory.zoom.us/j/790279394.%C2%A0%C2%A0) to ask me a question, or post a question
to this discussion board (https://canvas.emory.edu/courses/69746/discussion_topics/365999) .
If you don't have a question -- seriously, watch the video again (and again), until you have a
question.

Okay, so at this point you should be feeling good about gradients (both chemical and
electrical) and feeling... okay about ATP. These are two really important things to understand
before we talk about photosynthesis.

There are a few more things you need to know before we can really talk about what
photosynthesis is and why it matters. Today might feel like a set of a bunch of random little
concepts, but that's okay! This is about giving you the first layer of understanding that you need, so
that you can connect new ideas to this base layer of understanding later.

6) We mentioned this at the beginning of the semester, but you may have forgotten. A really
important fact about the world is that energy always stays as energy (in one form or another)
and mass always stays as mass (in one form or another). Energy does not get converted into
mass and mass does not get converted into energy. Up next is one of my favorite biology
videos ever (and it's not even the Amoeba sisters!). Watch this
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7ZwrlVLbEA) to figure out where a tree gets its mass from.

7) Okay, now you are ready for the very big picture of photosynthesis
(https://canvas.emory.edu/courses/69746/pages/Groundwork%20Video%202%3A%20Big%20pictur
e%20of%20photosynthesis?titleize=0) . My 4 year old was asleep in the next room while I filmed
this, so I'm talking a little quietly. Let me know if you have any trouble hearing me!

8) Photosynthesis happens in a cellular structure called a chloroplast. Draw a chloroplast and

upload a picture of it to this assignment
(https://canvas.emory.edu/courses/69746/assignments/316500) . Consult your book and whatever
other resources you need to figure out what a chloroplast looks like.

9) My guess is that this set of lecture activities probably did not take you the whole 75 minutes
that class would "normally" take. If you still have some time, consider using it to catch up on
any assignments that are hanging over your head, for this class (see below) or others. Or, just
enjoy a little break :)

Homework and Upcoming Assignments:

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All of the small canvas assignments described in "Today's Tasks" above are "due" by noon on
Friday, April 3rd. This guideline is really to help you stay on top of your work for this class. If
getting things done before Friday is stressing you out, just let me know and we can adjust. The
small assignments that are described only on this page (and not in your syllabus) are counted
towards your grade only as indicators of your participation.
Don't forget about the transport problem set
(https://canvas.emory.edu/courses/69746/quizzes/74900) . It's due Tuesday April 7th, but you have
until Friday, April 10th to turn it in without penalty.
If you haven't turned in the outline for your PSA Paper
(https://canvas.emory.edu/courses/69746/assignments/294054) do that by Friday (April 3rd).
Your Vocab Assignment #6 (https://canvas.emory.edu/courses/69746/assignments/293956) is due
today, but you have until Friday (4/3) to turn this in without penalty.
Your take-home mini quiz (https://canvas.emory.edu/courses/69746/quizzes/74264) is posted now,
and due today, but again, you have until Friday (4/3) to turn it in without penalty.
The assignment for quiz corrections
(https://canvas.emory.edu/courses/69746/assignments/294058) (in lieu of Lab Exam 2) is also
posted now. I have extended this deadline an extra week -- so you have until April 10th to
complete these.

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