In this activity students build protein bracelets using beads with different colors and shapes that represent the different amino acids.

In this exercise, students will explore the structures of the macromolecular building blocks using StarBiochem.

Submitted as part of the California Learning Resource Network (CLRN) Phase 3 Digital Textbook Initiative (CA DTI3), CK-12 Foundation's high school Biology FlexBook covers cell biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, botany, zoology, and physiology. This digital textbook was reviewed for its alignment with California content standards.

Students will use food labels from "health foods" to determine how proteins and carbohydrates are used by the body. 

In this exercise, students will explore the structure of a DNA repair protein found in most species, including bacteria. DNA repair proteins move along DNA strands, checking for mistakes or damage. DNA glycosylases, a specific type of DNA repair protein, recognize DNA bases that have been chemically altered and remove them, leaving a site in the DNA without a base. Other proteins then come along to fill in the missing DNA base.

This lesson provides an overview of the major factors that affect plant growth including: water, air, temperature, light and nutrients. If sticking to the basics, the lesson can be taught using all factors except nutrients. However, nutrient information is provided for longer class periods.

Fundamentals of Biology focuses on the basic principles of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and recombinant DNA. These principles are necessary to understanding the basic mechanisms of life and anchor the biological knowledge that is required to understand many of the challenges in everyday life, from human health and disease to loss of biodiversity and environmental quality.

Sample Learning Goals
Explain the main sequence of events that occur within a cell that leads to protein synthesis.
Predict how changing the concentrations and interactions of biomolecules affects protein production.
Explain how protein production in a single cell relates to the quantity produced by a collection of cells.

In this lesson, students will identify the structures and functions of the four main types of macromolecules. They will solve a mystery using laboratory tests for different types of macromolecules. They will use argumentation to justify and communicate their claim, They will construct explanations and communicate with one another to determine which macromolecule would be best to eat if different scenarios.

In this lesson, students learn about the chemical nature of life and the important role that carbon plays in the making of biological macromolecules. They will differentiate between the structures and functions of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids and investigate the presence of specific molecules in foods.

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In this lesson, students will explain that amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They will understand that there are 20 different amino acids, discuss the properties of polar (hydrophilic, negatively charged/acidic or positively charged/basic) and non-polar (hydrophobic, uncharged) side chains (R-groups) of these amino acids. Students will demonstrate the secondary folding (alpha helices and beta pleated sheets) and tertiary folding of peptides. They will also demonstrate that protein tertiary structure is created when the secondary structures fold and form bonds to stabilize the structure into a unique shape.

In this lesson, students will define and give examples of organic molecules and become aware of the structure and function of the four classes of organic molecules. They will also use simple chemical tests to determine the presence of various organic molecules in everyday foods.

In this exercise, students will use StarBiochem to explore the structure of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) and determine the relationship between the structure of a mutated form of PAH and the function of this mutated protein in patients with PKU.

The student will use knowledge they have learned through direct instruction to illustrate the creation and copying of the molecular structure of DNA and RNA. They will accomplish this by creating a comic strip and/or storyboard that graphically describes transcription and translation.

Students learn about protein structure and function. In an associated activity, students build a model of a protein with four helix units.

In this lesson students will examine the structure of tryglycerides – commonly known as fat molecules – and how when they are mixed with a base, sodium is produced that makes water more powerful. Soaps and detergents are made up of molecules that have a non-polar hydrocarbon on one end and an ionic charge on the other. This dual combination is the key ingredient to the cleaning action of soap. Dirt contains oils, greases, and other non-polar compounds. Since water is extremely polar, water alone will not dissolve or clean most dirt.

This resource is a part of the Scrubbing Bubbles: Tremendous Triglycerides lesson plan. This resource provides step by step ways for teachers to implement the lesson.

This resource is a part of the Scrubbing Bubbles: Tremendous Triglycerides lesson plan. This resource includes links to student resources for the lesson.