VIDEO: ENZYMES

Another video by AP Biology teacher Paul Anderson, this on the organic catalysts made of protein called ENZYMES.   Enzymes are stereospecific: they have a unique three-dimensional shape, and the active site of the enzyme is said to fit substrate molecules like a "lock" fits a "key".   When the substrate enters the active site, it places the molecules in just the right orientation that a chemical reaction becomes likely to occur.  

CELL BROCHURE, SATURDAY SCHOOL

Students:   your "Travel Brochure" is due on Thursday, November 12th.   This is a 100-point project intended to help you raise your grade.   Please take advantage of this project.   

The instructions can be found below, should you need them.  Click on the graphics to enlarge.

And....for some students....Saturday School will be held in Room N-63 on the Bullard campus for Mr. Hatfield's Biology students, on Saturday, October 31st, between 8:45 and 11:30.   

Students assigned Saturday School will receive opportunities to raise their grade.  If you have been assigned Saturday School, your parent or guardian must return a signed permission slip.

VIDEO: PROTEINS

Another video by AP Biology teacher Paul Anderson, this on the class of macromolecules called PROTEINS.   Proteins are made of sub-units called amino acids, which in turn are formed from atoms of C, H, O and N.   (A few amino acids also have side-chains made of sulfur.)

POWER POINT: THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE

Here is the Power Point on 'The Chemistry of Life.'   Students received a Lecture Guide based on this Power Point in Friday's class, along with a Study Guide for their test.

STUDY SESSION AFTER SCHOOL on Tuesday, Oct. 20th, between 3:15 and 5:00.   The test is the following Wednesday.

VIDEO: LIPIDS

Lipids are also molecules made of C, H and O.   Lipids include fats, waxes and oils.   Unlike carbohydrates, lipids will not readily dissolve in water, and they are said to be non-polar.

VIDEO: CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates are carbon-based macromolecules based on C, H and O.  They are polar and readily dissolve in water.

A simple sugar by itself, like glucose, is termed a monosaccharide, and serves as a 'building block' (monomer) to build a larger chain of many molecules called a polymer. In the case of carbohydrates, the polymer made from many monosaccharides linked together by dehydration reactions is called a polysaccharide.

Examples of polysaccharides made of glucose include cellulose, glycogen and starch.   Each of these glucose polymers are biologically important. 

VIDEO: MONOMERS AND POLYMERS

In today's class, we talked about the difference between organic (based on carbon) and inorganic (based on some other element) molecules.   Life, of course, is based on organic molecules.

We explained that there are four major classes of carbon-based compounds used by living things:   carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.

Each of these compounds is made of individual 'building blocks' called MONOMERS.   The monomers are linked together with covalent bonds to make large chains called POLYMERS, and the process of making polymers is referred to as POLYMERIZATION.

Here's a video from Bozeman Science, with animations, that gives some nice background on monomers and polymers:

POWER POINT: PROPERTIES OF WATER

HEY!

Here is the link to the Power Point on acids, bases and the pH scale.

Students should use this Power Point to make sure that their Interactive Notes are complete, and also to complete the Lecture Guide given in Monday's class.