1. J.

Wellington Wimpy (from unit 2, learning activity 2)

Compare 1 meal of Wimpy's before his transformation (burger meal) to 1 meal of his
after his transformation (sub meal). For each meal (before and after), list the
ingredients that were likely in his meal. Then compare the macromolecules available
in each meal.

Burger meal Sub meal

Meat (beef) White meat (Turkey)

Bread Wheat bread
Tomatoes Leafy vegetables
Lettuce Chickpeas
Cheese Tomatoes

Using the listed ingredients shows that the sub meal is healthier than his last meal.
Burger meal contains high fat and protein content from the meat. On the other hand, the sub-
meal focuses on gaining carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are good for providing energy for our
bodies. Even a tiny amount of food is sufficient to provide enough energy for the body.

Explain how these macromolecules break down in the body for energy. Include
diagrams in the description. What are the significant differences between the two
meals? Is the turkey sub a healthier meal when looking at the macromolecules
available?
✓ CARBOHYDRATES
o Salivary amylase begins the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth. The carbohydrates
then pass to the stomach, where digestion continues until the food is well mixed with acid,
which inactivates salivary amylase. In the duodenum, pancreatic amylase continues the
digestion of carbohydrates, and absorption begins. The amylases break down
polysaccharides into disaccharides. A group of enzymes called disaccharidases bound to
the intestinal epithelium microvilli break down the disaccharides into monosaccharides.

✓ PROTEIN
o Amino acids do actively transport into the various cells of the body. This transport does
stimulate by growth hormone and insulin. Most amino acids did use as building blocks to
 form new proteins, but some may be metabolized, with a portion of the released energy
used to produce ATP. The body cannot store excess amino acids. Instead, they are partially
broken down and used to synthesize glycogen or lipids, which can be stored. The body can
store only small amounts of glycogen, so most excess amino acids convert to lipids.

✓ LIPIDS
o The first step in lipid digestion is emulsification, by which large lipid droplets are transformed
into much smaller droplets. Bile salts secreted by the liver accomplish emulsification.
o Lipase,
o Secreted by the pancreas, it digests lipid molecules. The primary products of this digestive
process are fatty acids and monoglycerides. In the intestine, bile salts aggregate around tiny
droplets of digested lipids to form.
o Micelles.
o When a micelle comes in contact with the epithelial cells of the small intestine, the lipids,
fatty acids, and monoglyceride molecules pass, by simple diffusion, from the micelles
through the cell membranes of the epithelial cells. Once inside the intestinal epithelial cells,
the fatty acids and monoglycerides are recombined to form triglycerides. These, and other
lipids, are packaged inside a protein coat. The packaged lipid-protein complexes,
or lipoproteins, are called chylomicrons. Chylomicrons are transported to the liver, where the
lipids are stored, converted into other molecules, or used as energy. They do also transport
to adipose tissue, where they are stored until an energy source is needed elsewhere in the
body.
 Provide some tips for Wimpy to make his meals even healthier.

o Based on Wimpy's diet, he should reduce high-lipid consumption. Lipids can also be a
source of energy; however, when we consume too much, cholesterol and triglycerides may
be stored in the body. Cholesterol and triglycerides should be burned to avoid
cardiovascular diseases. It is better to focus on gaining carbohydrates and protein. These
macromolecules will provide enough energy to the body without risking the individual non-
communicable diseases.
o It is better to focus on gaining carbohydrates and protein. These macromolecules will
provide enough energy to the body without risking the individual non-communicable
diseases.

2. Lactose intolerance (from unit 2, learning activity 4)

Explain to Carol what is happening in her body - what does it mean to be lactose
intolerant? Explain this using biology terms and concepts learned in this unit. Why
does her doctor recommend that she eats yogurt?

✓ Lactose is the disaccharide formed by two simple carbohydrates or sugars called

monosaccharides. These monosaccharides that form lactose are called glucose and
galactose. When lactose does take into the gut, it will be digested by breaking it into these
simpler sugars before absorption. This process requires an enzyme called lactase.
✓ Lactose intolerance is a digestive condition that causes the inability to break down lactose
during digestion. It occurs when the person affected cannot produce sufficient lactase for
this process, a condition that typically worsens with age. As a result, the lactose moves
 around the gut undigested, causing
problems such as abdominal cramps
and bloating. Fermentation may also
release gas, especially when the
lactose reaches the large intestine.

✓ Unlike milk, yogurt contains bacterial

lactase, facilitating lactose digestion.
Furthermore, this is why lactose-
intolerant persons like Carol will be
advised to eat yogurt if they want to
enjoy dairy products.

3. Hydration and dehydration (from unit 2, learning activity 5)

Who was correct? Ellie's father or mother? Explain the process of getting wrinkly
skin and how you know they were correct. Is what happening to skin in an ocean vs. a
freshwater lake different or the same? Explain this using concepts and terms learned
in this unit.

Ellie's Mother is correct because what Ellie and David noticed after playing for the hour-
long in the community pool was primarily due to Osmosis.
After staying for long inside the pool water, the sebum (an oily secretion on the skin) is
washed off, and the skin's external surface gets exposed to the pool water. Following this, water,
through Osmosis, travels from the zone of high concentration towards the zone of its lower
concentration. As a result, the external skin surface consisting primarily of dead cells, swells.
However, the process is not uniform across the entire skin surface and so appears as wrinkly
skin.

Ellie's Mother is correct because the dead skin cells, primarily dehydrated, imbibe water
via the process of Osmosis and not diffusion because diffusion is a prolonged process, so it would
take much longer for wrinkle skin phenotype to happen. Also, the cell membrane of these dead
cells is semi-permeable and allows the selective movement of solute across it.