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Use of fad diets and supplements to teach the integration of metabolism.
Author(s) -
Draves Patricia Holland
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a975-a
Subject(s) - class (philosophy) , thermochemistry , presentation (obstetrics) , function (biology) , adaptation (eye) , energy metabolism , mathematics education , computer science , biochemistry , chemistry , psychology , medicine , biology , artificial intelligence , neuroscience , evolutionary biology , radiology
Teaching and learning metabolism and the connections between metabolic pathways are challenging efforts for all participants. Even students with a strong knowledge of the chemical reactions and thermodynamic concepts that underlie metabolism often struggle with making connections between the pathways and then applying those connections to practical situations. To help address this challenge in my biochemistry class I have each student analyze a separate fad diet or “nutritional supplement” on a molecular level. The students write an analysis of their diets/supplements and address how each has a short and long term impact on carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism. Students later present their findings to the class which leads to engaging conversations that often extend outside the classroom. In the presentation, I will discuss methods of implementing these assignments, completed projects, and how student learning has been enhanced. Also adaptation of the assignment to support the study of structure function relationships and thermodynamics and thermochemistry into general chemistry will be discussed.