Plant Biology 2 (Food Biology)
This course is intended to educate students about three key concept areas or themes relating to food: diet and nutrition, a biological understanding of how food is processed in the body, and issues regarding farming/ agriculture and food sustainability. Other areas of study that are addressed in addition to these key concepts include food preparation and lifestyle choices relating to diet and nutrition. This course integrates the content of two areas of study: science and health education. It is also designed with an environmental and sustainable focus, as well as a focus on promoting sustainable and healthy lifestyle choices. The goal of the course is to understand that food is much more than just sustenance, and that simple decisions like the choices we make at the supermarket actually have far-reaching consequences on the environment, our health, and society in general.
Unit One: An Introduction to Nutrition
Objectives:
Introduction to nutrition, understanding definitions of nutritional terms (such as fats, protein, etc.), reading and interpreting food labels.
Handouts/ Materials:
Course Syllabus, Food Journal Guidelines, 'The Nutrients', 'How to Read a Nutrition Label', Nutrient Puzzle Group Project Guidelines, Food Additives Group Research Activity Guidelines
Assignments/ Activities:
The Nutrients Questions, Nutrition Label Analysis, Nutrient Puzzle Group Project, Binder Check 1, Food Journal Check 1, Unit Quiz One, Food Additives Group Research Activity, Supersize Me Questions, Fast Food Nutrition Assignment
Supplementary Links:
Early humans' quest for food stoked the flames of our evolution
Where does 'American' food come from?
What are macronutrients and why does everyone keep talking about them?
Our love of starch changed our genes
Analysis of a 'superfood': Moringa
Check out the Food Scores website- put in any food, any brand and see how it rates!
Excellent website database for Foods to Avoid
Same website- 'chemical cuisine'- additive rankings
Are 'natural' flavors really natural?
Supplementary Films:
Objectives:
Introduction to nutrition, understanding definitions of nutritional terms (such as fats, protein, etc.), reading and interpreting food labels.
Handouts/ Materials:
Course Syllabus, Food Journal Guidelines, 'The Nutrients', 'How to Read a Nutrition Label', Nutrient Puzzle Group Project Guidelines, Food Additives Group Research Activity Guidelines
Assignments/ Activities:
The Nutrients Questions, Nutrition Label Analysis, Nutrient Puzzle Group Project, Binder Check 1, Food Journal Check 1, Unit Quiz One, Food Additives Group Research Activity, Supersize Me Questions, Fast Food Nutrition Assignment
Supplementary Links:
Early humans' quest for food stoked the flames of our evolution
Where does 'American' food come from?
What are macronutrients and why does everyone keep talking about them?
Our love of starch changed our genes
Analysis of a 'superfood': Moringa
Check out the Food Scores website- put in any food, any brand and see how it rates!
Excellent website database for Foods to Avoid
Same website- 'chemical cuisine'- additive rankings
Are 'natural' flavors really natural?
Supplementary Films:
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Unit Two: Food and Energy
Objectives:
Learn the science of nutrition and how living things extract energy from food, such as photosynthesis, fermentation, cellular respiration, and metabolism. Understand why nutrients are important to the life and growth of all organisms.
Handouts/ Materials:
'Metabolism', 'Chemical Pathways'
Assignments/ Activities:
Metabolism Questions, Chemical Pathways Questions, Binder Check 2, Food Journal Check 2, Midterm Exam
Supplementary Links:
Supplementary Films:
Objectives:
Learn the science of nutrition and how living things extract energy from food, such as photosynthesis, fermentation, cellular respiration, and metabolism. Understand why nutrients are important to the life and growth of all organisms.
Handouts/ Materials:
'Metabolism', 'Chemical Pathways'
Assignments/ Activities:
Metabolism Questions, Chemical Pathways Questions, Binder Check 2, Food Journal Check 2, Midterm Exam
Supplementary Links:
Supplementary Films:
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Unit Three: Food and Health
Objectives:
Learn about the healthy and medicinal qualities of certain foods and nutrients, learn about the structure and function of the immune system, understand the cell cycle and cancer.
Handouts/ Materials:
'Immune System', 'The Life Cycle of Cells', Mitosis Flipbook Project Guidelines
Assignments/ Activities:
Immune System Questions, The Life Cycle of Cells Questions, Mitosis Flipbook Project, Binder Check 3, Unit Quiz Two
Supplementary Links:
Highly processed foods linked to cancer (includes a list)
The relationship between gut microbes and cancer
'Undruggable' cancer protein can be drugged with a shrub
Microbes in your gut may be new recruits in the fight against viruses
Supplementary Films:
Objectives:
Learn about the healthy and medicinal qualities of certain foods and nutrients, learn about the structure and function of the immune system, understand the cell cycle and cancer.
Handouts/ Materials:
'Immune System', 'The Life Cycle of Cells', Mitosis Flipbook Project Guidelines
Assignments/ Activities:
Immune System Questions, The Life Cycle of Cells Questions, Mitosis Flipbook Project, Binder Check 3, Unit Quiz Two
Supplementary Links:
Highly processed foods linked to cancer (includes a list)
The relationship between gut microbes and cancer
'Undruggable' cancer protein can be drugged with a shrub
Microbes in your gut may be new recruits in the fight against viruses
Supplementary Films:
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Unit Four: Where Our Food Comes From
Objectives:
Learn the history of farming from the “green revolution”, agriculture-related pollution and health risks (such as pesticides, fertilizers, etc.), compare conventional and organic farming techniques, critique current trends of developing and utilizing genetically modified foods.
Handouts/ Materials:
'Cycles of Matter', 'Food System Background Information', 'The Green Revolution'
Assignments/ Activities:
Cycles of Matter Assignment, Food Systems Questions, The Green Revolution Questions
Supplementary Links:
How does Earth's carbon cycle work?
Our food systems are in crisis- and not just from climate change
Plants experience stress- what that means for a changing environment
Plant 'clocks' could be the key to producing more food for the world
Organic farming could feed the world, if we change our eating habits
Rotting fruit art showcases vulnerability of our food supply
We throw out more than 2 trillion pounds of food a year- here are the consequences
The true costs of cheap food and the American diet
Arizona's water supplies are drying up. How will its farmers survive?
Rice yields plummet and arsenic rises in future climate
Supplementary Films:
Objectives:
Learn the history of farming from the “green revolution”, agriculture-related pollution and health risks (such as pesticides, fertilizers, etc.), compare conventional and organic farming techniques, critique current trends of developing and utilizing genetically modified foods.
Handouts/ Materials:
'Cycles of Matter', 'Food System Background Information', 'The Green Revolution'
Assignments/ Activities:
Cycles of Matter Assignment, Food Systems Questions, The Green Revolution Questions
Supplementary Links:
How does Earth's carbon cycle work?
Our food systems are in crisis- and not just from climate change
Plants experience stress- what that means for a changing environment
Plant 'clocks' could be the key to producing more food for the world
Organic farming could feed the world, if we change our eating habits
Rotting fruit art showcases vulnerability of our food supply
We throw out more than 2 trillion pounds of food a year- here are the consequences
The true costs of cheap food and the American diet
Arizona's water supplies are drying up. How will its farmers survive?
Rice yields plummet and arsenic rises in future climate
Supplementary Films:
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Unit Five: How our Food is Changing
Objectives:
Learn about the selective breeding of crops by humans over time, understand what DNA is and how it’s replicated, examine the process of transcription and translation and apply them to genetic engineering.
Handouts/ Materials:
'The GMO Debate', 'DNA'
Assignments/ Activities:
The GMO Debate Questions, King Corn Questions, How Does a Cell Read DNA? Activity, DNA Questions, The Future of Food Questions, Binder Check 4, Final Exam, Course Evaluation
Supplementary Links:
Monsanto's website
Why haven't GMO crops made food better?
Why synthetic foods have scientists nervous
Genetically modified salmon heading to restaurants soon
Genetically modified meat could soon be on your plate
The 'Doomsday Vault' that protects the Earth's food supply
How scientists could save the banana from extinction
Genetically engineered fungi used to kill mosquitoes
Offbeat foods may help us survive a harsher climate
Scientists race against time to save crop genetic diversity
Why we should be cultivating mushrooms
Scientists observe DNA 'dancing' for the first time ever
Engineered viruses can fight antibiotic resistant bacteria
This insect has plant genes in its genome
Humans used to be good for the planet, and we can be again
Supplementary Films:
Objectives:
Learn about the selective breeding of crops by humans over time, understand what DNA is and how it’s replicated, examine the process of transcription and translation and apply them to genetic engineering.
Handouts/ Materials:
'The GMO Debate', 'DNA'
Assignments/ Activities:
The GMO Debate Questions, King Corn Questions, How Does a Cell Read DNA? Activity, DNA Questions, The Future of Food Questions, Binder Check 4, Final Exam, Course Evaluation
Supplementary Links:
Monsanto's website
Why haven't GMO crops made food better?
Why synthetic foods have scientists nervous
Genetically modified salmon heading to restaurants soon
Genetically modified meat could soon be on your plate
The 'Doomsday Vault' that protects the Earth's food supply
How scientists could save the banana from extinction
Genetically engineered fungi used to kill mosquitoes
Offbeat foods may help us survive a harsher climate
Scientists race against time to save crop genetic diversity
Why we should be cultivating mushrooms
Scientists observe DNA 'dancing' for the first time ever
Engineered viruses can fight antibiotic resistant bacteria
This insect has plant genes in its genome
Humans used to be good for the planet, and we can be again
Supplementary Films:
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