Molecular Models for Cows Growing: Digestion and Biosynthesis: How Do Cows Grow?
You will answer the following questions in your journal as you move through the presentation on your computer. Follow the prompts, cow poster and colorful food molecules to model digestion and biosynthesis for the cow.
1. In the circle provided on the cow diagram, describe INGESTION.
2. Food is made of 3 main molecules. Label the drawings:
3. Digestion occurs in the and .
4. In the circle provided on the cow diagram, describe DIGESTION.
For example, starch, a complex carbohydrate or polymer, is digested into a simple carbohydrate, or monomer.
5. WHY do animals digest food molecules into smaller subunits?
6. Now we have polymers that were digested into monomers in the stomach and small intestine.
What do you think happens to these monomers? What does the cow use the monomers for?
7. Which type of molecules are not broken down by animal cells and removed in their feces?
8. MODELING DIGESTION: Read through slides 7-17 CAREFULY and FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. Yes, you will digest your food molecules by using scissors to physically cut up the molecules into the smaller subunits.
9. In the circle provided on the cow diagram, describe CIRCULATION.
10. What materials enter a cow cell?
11. MODELING BIOSYNTHESIS: Read through slides 22-29 CAREFULY and FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. Yes, you will biosynthesize your food molecules by using tape to physically tape the smaller subunits together to make a larger food molecule.
12. Reflect on #11. Explain in your own words what happens to materials once they are in the cell.
13. In the circle provided on the cow diagram, describe BIOSYNTHESIS.
14. Explain what biosynthesis is and how it relates to a cow growing. Give an example of biosynthesis.
15. How animal cells use glucose? Explain two ways.
16. Pick up the handout at front table, “Tracing Atoms & Energy in Animals”, tape into journal and complete.
17. Complete the blanks with our new vocabulary for this handout:
Think of this whole system as a 4 step process
1. ______: An organism takes in food.
2. ______: The large food molecules are broken down (using enzymes) into smaller monomers (or building blocks or subunits).
3. ______: The monomers travel through the blood to all cells of the organism’s body!
4. A. ______: The monomers are rebuilt back into large proteins, fats, and carbohydrates that the organism can use to grow or store for later use!
OR
B. ______: The chemical energy from the monomer glucose is transformed to energy the cell can use for cellular processes to live and grow.