Cystic Fibrosis Webquest

CYSTIC FIBROSIS - A DISORDER OF MEMBRANE TRANSPORT

A great variety of proteins have roles in moving molecules and ions across cell membranes. Passive transport proteins permit certain substances to diffuse down concentration gradients by moving through the protein's interior. Active transport proteins use ATP energy to pump substances across the membrane against their concentration gradients. To investigate the importance of transport proteins, we will consider the effects of cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder in which there is a defect in a transport protein..

Activity

Part 1.

In this part of the activity you will visit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s web site to learn about the causes and symptoms of cystic fibrosis.

Use your browser to go to

Use the information provided in the “About cystic fibrosis” section to answer the following questions:

1. What are the signs and symptoms of cystic fibrosis?

~very salty-tasting skin
~persistent coughing, at times with phegm
~frequent lung infections
~wheezing or shortness of breath
~poor growth/weight gain in spite of a good appetite

2. How common is this disorder?

Around 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year. Approximately 30,000 people in the United States have Cystic Fibrosis.

3. How is cystic fibrosis diagnosed?

Most people are diagnosed at birth with a newborn screening, or before the age of two. Doctors who see symptoms of CF order a sweat test. The sweat test is a genetic test that confirms diagnosis.

4. How is cystic fibrosis inherited? Does everyone who has a mutant gene for the protein have cystic fibrosis?
To get Cystic Fibrosis the child must inherit two copies of the defective CF genes, one from each parent. If both parents are carriers of the genes their child will have a 25% chance of inheriting both genes, a 50% chance of being a carrier, and a 25% chance of not having CF or caring the gene.

Part 2.

In this part of the activity you will read an article to learn more about cystic fibrosis.

Use your browser to go to:

http://resources.schoolscience.co.uk/MRC/3/page3.html

Use the information in this article to answer the following questions:

1. Explain the normal function of the protein that is defective in cystic fibrosis.
The normal function of the protein that is defective in cystic fibrosis is

Normally, the movements of the ions brings water the surface of the airway. This water keeps the mucus moist . So, the normal proteins function is to control the amount of chloride ions to the cells. This protein is named CF trans membrane regulator (ion channel)

2. What happens to this protein in CF patients and what are the consequences for the health of these individuals?

The defective protein means that the protein is no longer regulating the amount of chloride ions in the cells. Causing blockage in the channels and drying out of the mucus.

Part 3.

In this part of the activity you will read about how cystic fibrosis is treated.

Use your browser to go to:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cystic-fibrosis/DS00287

Use the information in the different sections of the article to answer the following questions:

1. Explain at least 3 treatments for the symptoms of cystic fibrosis.

Three treatments for Cystic Fibrosis are all medications, since there are no cures. They are antibiotics, mucus-thinning drugs, bronchodilators. The antibiotics are used to prevent lung infections and can be taken as a pill, inhaled, and many other ways. The mucus-thinning drugs reduce the mucus’s stickiness making it easier to cough up and easier for the lungs to function. The bronchodilators are inhaled and keep the person’s airways open making it easier to breath.

2. Discuss at least 3 ways for parents to help their children who have cystic fibrosis.

Some home remedies for CF to help your child include better nutrition is to drink lots of fluids, keep immunizations up to date, exercise, eliminate smoke, and encourage your child to wash their hands.

Diffusion and Osmosis Lab (Part 2)

Part Two

This was the second part to the diffusion and osmosis lab but it was more focused on the osmosis. We had test a few different substance to see how they reacted with being placed in water for about four hours. There were three (protein, sugar and salt)  substances that we used and made sure they were all measured to be about 5.4 grams mixed with water. Our fourth was just plain water to know weather or not there was a small or big reaction. We put the mixed solution in each a separate dialysis bag and weighed them and put them in their own beaker filled with 200 mL of water. After about four hours we took them out and weight them again. The protein one 19.02 grams and increased by 4.8%, the water was 17.08 grams and decreased by 1.65%. The salt dialysis bag was weight at 15.99 and decreased by 5.4%, the sugar was 16.97 grams and increased by 6.9%.

Diffusion and Osmosis Lab (Part 1)

First of all this week we started to learn about diffusion and osmosis and how important they are to living organisms. They are the process of water and certain solutes moving in and out. Diffusion and osmosis  do not require any added energy.
What we had to do!
In this lab my group and I had to get one cup that was eight ounces, then fill it two thirds full of water. Then we added about 10 drops to the water and mixed it together. We used glucose test strip to test the iodine water solution. Then we used dialysis tubing to hold a solution of glucose and starch and tied up bother sides, so the water is trapped in the bag. Afterwards we tested the solution in the bag then we set the bag in the beaker of water and waited about 24 hours to see the reaction. In the end we noticed that the iodine went into the bag and some of the glucose starch solution leaked a little into the water. Also, the bag had expanded from its original size.
Results
Iodine was absorbed in the bag and glucose was released out of the bag into the water solution. The starch would stay the same, it only reacted with the iodine in the bag. The water was no longer a rusty color in the beaker, instead it was a purplish color in the dialysis bag. There was also more water in the dialysis bag afterwards and the bag had low concentration of iodine. 

Fluid Mosaic Model

This is the poster that my group and I created to represent a fluid mosaic model and on the poster we labeled the different parts of the membrane like cholesterol, integral proteins, peripheral membrane protein, glycolipid, phospholipid, and digosaccharide side chain.

Collagen Webquest

COLLAGEN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Proteins are the most diverse class of biological molecules. Most of your body is made up of proteins. Each protein consists of one or more polypeptide chains, in which amino acids are strung together in a specific order. This amino acid sequence or 'primary structure' is the key to the shape and function of the protein. Interactions among different amino acids along the length of the polypeptide chain cause it to coil, bend, and fold into a complex shape.  Some proteins consist of two or more polypeptide chains. In many cases, the polypeptide chains form a rounded or globular shape. Most enzymes are like this, as is the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin molecule. In other cases, polypeptide chains form long strands or sheets. These fibrous proteins are often structural components, such as keratin and collagen.

Activity

In this activity, you will explore the structure and function of collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body. You will begin by visiting a Protein Data Bank site, where the structure of collagen is described and illustrated in a "Molecule of the Month" feature. Next, you will research the effects of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic disorder that affects the structure or number of collagen molecules.

Part 1.

Use your browser to go to http://www.rcsb.org. This site is a Protein Data Bank where you can search for any information about your favorite proteins, including everyone’s favorite, collagen.

Do a search at the very top of the page for collagen, then click on the Molecule of the Month: Collagen link to view the article on collagen.

Read the information and view the graphics. Use this information to answer the following questions:

1. Describe the primary structure of collagen. What are the major amino acid components in collagen?

 The primary structure of collagen is a linear sequence of amino acids. To form polypeptides amino acids will combine.

 

2. What role does vitamin C play in collagen formation? What happens when a person does not get enough vitamin C in his or her diet?

-Hydroxyproline takes place after the collagen is built. The reaction needs vitamin C to help the addition of oxygen. Since we are able to get produce vitamin C in our bodies then we have to make sure we get enough in our diets. When we do not get enough vitamin C it will slow the production of collagen which can cause scurvy and its easier for you to bruise.

 

3. Describe the quaternary structure of collagen (the way in which the polypeptide chains are arranged).

The quaternary level of protein structure  is the tropocollagen. A tropocollagen is made up of three polypeptide chains which wind together to form a triple helix.

Part 2.

Use your browser to go to the Web site of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation at

http://www.oif.org

On the left side of the home page, click the link “About OI”, then find the “Facts About OI” section.

Read the material in the sections entitled "Facts on Osteogenesis Imperfecta” and “Types of OI.” Use what you have learned to answer the following questions:

1. What is the main symptom of osteogenesis imperfecta?  What are some other symptoms that people with OI may have?

The main symptom of osteogenesis imperfecta is really fragile bones that break and fracture easily. Some other symptoms that people with OI may have is muscle weakness, fatigue, brittle teeth, curved bones and scoliosis.

 

2. Type I osteogenesis imperfecta causes fewer problems than the other forms. How does the collagen structure in Type I OI differ from that of the other types?

The collagen structure in Type I are mild fragility with few fractures and mild limb deformities.

Read the handout (pdf) in the resources section on Bone Structure.

1. Describe the role of collagen in bones. Why do collagen problems lead to bone problems?

 
The role that  collagens plays in bones is similar to building a bridge. The steel rods are cased with cement, without the steel rods the cement would be brittle and fracture with small amounts of movement. Collagen is like the steel rods and the minerals in bones are like the cements. Your bones aren't as strong without collagen, they can fracture and break easily.

Concept Map

http://popplet.com/app/#/1288012
This is the concept map that I had created to understand more of the connection between everything that we have recently been learning about.

Carbohydrate Identification Lab

Carbohydrate Identification Lab Analysis Questions

Use your results from the carbohydrate identification lab and any notes or resources about carbohydrates to answer the following questions:

1. Name the three categories of carbohydrates studied in this investigation.

Monosaccharide, Disaccharide, Polysaccharide

2. What three chemical elements are present in all carbohydrates?

Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen

3. Give two examples each of the names of sugar molecules from our discussion or the textbook/online that are:
1. Monosaccharide's

Glucose, Fructose

2. Disaccharides

Lactose, Maltose

3. Polysaccharides

Starch, Glycogen

4. How many times larger is the number of hydrogen atoms than oxygen atoms in:
1. water?

2 times larger

2. carbohydrates?

2 times larger

5. “Mono” means one, “di” means two, and “poly” means many. Why are these terms used in describing the three types of sugars?

In mono, there is only one carbohydrates. In di, there is two carbohydrates. In poly there are many carbohydrates.

6. How can you tell by using Benedict’s and iodine solutions if a sugar is a
1. Monosaccharide?

-It will turn orange

2. Disaccharide?

- It won't change

3. Polysaccharide?

- It won't change

7. A certain sugar has no change in color when tested with Benedict’s solution.
1. Can you tell what type of saccharide it is?

- No you can not tell what type of saccharide it is  

2. Explain.

-Because there are two different types of saccharides that has no change

8. A certain sugar has a color change in Benedict’s solution.
1. Can you tell what type of saccharide it is?

- Polysaccharide

2. Explain.

-Because the chemicals in the iodine can only react with the saccharides when there are a lot of carbohydrates

9. Give a examples of foods that contain
1. Monosaccharides

- Honey, Pears

2. Disaccharides

- Sugar, Yogurt

3. Polysaccharides

-Taco shells, Corn

Procedure 
In this lab we were able to see all the different reactions we could get with different solutions. Those two solutions that we used were Benedict and Iodine. We had test tubes with small amounts of monosaccharide, disaccharide, and polysaccharide; with them we put about seven drops of benedicts in each tube. Then we put them in warm water for five minutes and were able to see the reaction that Benedict did on the solutions. With the iodine, it was different because we didn't have to put it in warm water to get a reaction out of the solutions. Instead we were able to see them shortly after we put the seven drops in each tube.
Reactions

After we were done we noticed we were able to get different reactions and others didn't react at all. In the monosaccharide we had very little reactions with Benedict's and Iodine. 

+	Reacted
-	Didn’t React
- a little	Had a little Reaction

	Benedicts	Iodine
Monosaccharide	-  a little	-  a little
Disaccharide	+	-  a little
Polysaccharide	-  a little	+
Corn Starch		+
Honey maid crackers	-
Honey and Cheerios		+
Sugar Benedicts	-
Dextrose		-