Carbohydrates and lipids

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Nature of science:

Evaluating claims—health claims made about lipids in diets need to be assessed. (5.2)

Understandings:
  • Monosaccharide monomers are linked together by condensation reactions to form disaccharides and polysaccharide polymers.
  • Fatty acids can be saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated.
  • Unsaturated fatty acids can be cis or trans isomers.
  • Triglycerides are formed by condensation from three fatty acids and one glycerol.

Applications and skills:

  • Application: Structure and function of cellulose and starch in plants and glycogen in humans.
  • Application: Scientific evidence for health risks of trans fats and saturated fatty acids.
  • Application: Lipids are more suitable for long-term energy storage in humans than carbohydrates.
  • Application: Evaluation of evidence and the methods used to obtain the evidence for health claims made about lipids.
  • Skill: Use of molecular visualization software to compare cellulose, starch and glycogen.
  • Skill: Determination of body mass index by calculation or use of a nomogram.

Guidance:

  • The structure of starch should include amylose and amylopectin.
  • Named examples of fatty acids are not required.
  • Sucrose, lactose and maltose should be included as examples of disaccharides produced by combining monosaccharides.
International-mindedness:
  • Variation in the prevalence of different health problems around the world could be discussed including obesity, dietary energy deficiency, kwashiorkor, anorexia nervosa and coronary heart disease.

Theory of knowledge:

  • There are conflicting views as to the harms and benefits of fats in diets. How do we decide between competing views?

Utilization:

  • Potatoes have been genetically modified to reduce the level of amylose to produce a more effective adhesive.
  • Syllabus and cross-curricular links: Biology
  • Option B: Biotechnology and bioinformatics

Aims:

  • Aim 8: There are social implications of obesity.

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