Essencial Questions
1. How do compounds/molecules provide nutrition?
Compounds and molecules provide nutrition by carrying out the biochemical reactions needed for us to nourish our body. For example, the cohesive and adhesive properties of water provide the transportation of water in plants (this is due to the polar covalent bonds in water molecules and their charge). Enzymes provide us the cataslyzation of substances that enter our body. Without them, we wouldn't be able to digest food. Carbohydrates and Lipids provide us with energy to survive. And proteins are not only for enzymatic, hormonal, and immunological purposes, but they are basically what we are made of. They are the main component of our muscle tissue and the building blocks of life
2. How are some topics in health/nutrition controversial?
Some topics in health nutritions controversial because we still don't have enough information to know what are the real effects of it. Society creates different sides of this controversy, and each side's opinion is mostly based on their personal interests. For example, marijuana (or cannabis) is a drug that has a lot of controversy in society because all stakeholders have something different to say (most importantly involved is the government). The information that is released contradicts information released by rival stakeholders. This creates many different points of view in the subject, instead of having only one objective pov containing the same information. In this case, the government would be the most important stakeholder because they provide us with funds to support research about the drug. However, the government is mostly against the use of the drug (including its medical use), and doesn't provide enough financial aid. This lack of research and knowledge makes the subject even more confusing and controversial, and the different points of view become more stronger than ever because all they are left to do is assume.
Sources:
-Cambridge, Biology for the IB Diploma: Second Edition. By Brenda Walpole
-Class demos (cohesive properties of water in a penny and factors affecting enzyme activity: lactase)
-Crash Course Biology (youtube channel): Thats Why Carbon Is A Tramp
1. How do compounds/molecules provide nutrition?
Compounds and molecules provide nutrition by carrying out the biochemical reactions needed for us to nourish our body. For example, the cohesive and adhesive properties of water provide the transportation of water in plants (this is due to the polar covalent bonds in water molecules and their charge). Enzymes provide us the cataslyzation of substances that enter our body. Without them, we wouldn't be able to digest food. Carbohydrates and Lipids provide us with energy to survive. And proteins are not only for enzymatic, hormonal, and immunological purposes, but they are basically what we are made of. They are the main component of our muscle tissue and the building blocks of life
2. How are some topics in health/nutrition controversial?
Some topics in health nutritions controversial because we still don't have enough information to know what are the real effects of it. Society creates different sides of this controversy, and each side's opinion is mostly based on their personal interests. For example, marijuana (or cannabis) is a drug that has a lot of controversy in society because all stakeholders have something different to say (most importantly involved is the government). The information that is released contradicts information released by rival stakeholders. This creates many different points of view in the subject, instead of having only one objective pov containing the same information. In this case, the government would be the most important stakeholder because they provide us with funds to support research about the drug. However, the government is mostly against the use of the drug (including its medical use), and doesn't provide enough financial aid. This lack of research and knowledge makes the subject even more confusing and controversial, and the different points of view become more stronger than ever because all they are left to do is assume.
Sources:
-Cambridge, Biology for the IB Diploma: Second Edition. By Brenda Walpole
-Class demos (cohesive properties of water in a penny and factors affecting enzyme activity: lactase)
-Crash Course Biology (youtube channel): Thats Why Carbon Is A Tramp