Warm Up 3 is due Wednesday February 4, 2004, at 9:30 am

QUESTION 1: When we eat the cells of another animal (like muscle cells - steak, or leaf cells - spinach) what happens to the protein and the DNA in those cells that we eat? How are we able to use cow proteins and cow DNA, or spinach proteins and spinach DNA for the growth and development of our human bodies?

From KM: q1: 1.) Our bodies must have the amino acids found only in proteins. Our bodies even rely on our diet to provide these, as they do not produce all of the necessary amino acids, of themselves. The DNA's role is to link certain amino acids together and know which ones are yet necessary to make. I am honestly not sure how 'cow and spinach' proteins and DNA can be converted for our 'human' good, my guess is that the chains of amino acids are similar, and thus are easily linked together with other amino acids by our DNA. (Just a guess!!!). (But it's a good guess!)

From Dannie: q1: Honestly, I've been looking through the notes for a while now and I just cannot seem to find this answer so I'm going to make an educated guess...I'm guessing that there is something in our own cells that allows us to break down and convert the DNA and proteins in the other types of to make them like our own cells. Then, because they are in this new form, the can be used for the growth and development of our human bodies...if this is terribly wrong, I'm sorry, but it's the best I've got. (But that's good...its the RIGHT answer!)

From Dee: q1: When we east those parts, peptide bonds are broken down to separate into amino acids that we use to build our own proteins for our muscle, keratin etc.

(Note from Dr. Marrs: Proteins, like sugars and fats, are made of 'building blocks' - for proteins these monomers are called amino acids. Polymers of amino acids (proteins) are made by cow and spinach cells and when we eat those polymers, we break tham back down to monomers by digestion, and then use those monomers (amino acids) to build the new proteins WE need (with instructions prvided by our DNA). We also recycle all the lipids, DNA, and other macromolecules we eat into things our bodies need.) Even though we eat cow or spinach proteins, lipid, DNA, etc, our body breaks tham down to their monomers and puts them to work as human proteins, lipids, or DNA building blocks (we haven't discussed these yet)

QUESTION 2:The USDA recommends that the average American diet for a person ~150 pounds (~2000 calories/ day) consist of

65g Total Fat (20 g of which can be saturated fat),
300 mg or less of cholesterol,
2400 mg of sodium
300 g of carbohydrate (25g of which should be fiber)
~65 g protein (varies depending on weight)

On a recent visit to McDonalds, a hungry professor (no names, please) ordered her fave fast food meal. Take a look the Nutrition Facts for this Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal with Super Size fries and Coke. What amount of this person's total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, fiber, sodium, protein, and carbohydrate came from this one yummy meal? Do you have any comments about the nutritional implications of a fast-food lifestyle? Do you have any tips of how you balance healthy eating habits with the convenience of fast food? Want to see other nutrition facts for YOUR fave McDonamds lunch? Click on the McDonalds Appetite Controller website.

Thanks for all the great answers!
From notorious: q2: (ANYONE FOR AN ANGIOPLASTY SPECIAL? --- yum :~)

From cas: q2: This professor ate, in one meal, almost all of the recommeded limits for her daily intake. She had 116% of her total fat, 55% of her cholesterol, 78% of her sodium, 76% of her carbs, and 84% of her protein. And that's just in one meal. That doesn't leave very much room to squeeze in the other two meals of the day! Obviously, though fast food is convenient, it's not a healthy lifestyle choice, and I think that people should eat it in modeation (no more than once a week). Otherwise people can become obese and have other lifestyle diseases (heart disease and diabetes).

QUESTION 3: (not optional!) Please list AT LEAST ONE QUESTION that you have for the Exam Review. I will discuss these questions in class, so make sure to get your questions addresses now - before the test!

Thanks for all your questions! We will do these in class!

From cheeto girl: q3: We have sooooo much material that we have covered. I haven't been keeping up with it all like I should. Am I doomed? NO! Its never too late (but start TODAY)! See the Exam I Survival Guide!

Ninja: q3: 1) Is the test going to be curved? 2) Can I have an automatic A? 1) No, because everyone is going to study and get a good grade. 2) Yes, if you study and get a good grade. :)

QUESTION 4: (optional) Comments about food pyramids, low carb diets, etc. Are you a big fan of these - or others?? Just for fun...become a diet multimillionaire like Atkins, Agatston, etc! List a (fictional) diet you might promote to become a rich overnight and start the next diet craze! Base it on either sound nutrition, or the way YOU eat today (ie: the Starving Student Ramen Diet! Hi Carb, Hi MSG, and only 8 cents!) How about The Superbowl Diet? etc... :)

From Shifty-Eyed Swindler: q4: I am particularly fond of the ice cream diet. SO many varieties ......cones...sundaes....popsicles...etc etc.
From Billy Biology: q4: I am proposing the all new and exciting ICE CREAM DREAM DIET! The motto of this diet is ALL ICE CREAM... ALL THE TIME!
From Daisy Mae q4: If i were to create my own diet I would call it the Chocolate Brownie Frenzie. Just plain bad for you. When I am studying all night on a night such as tonight all i want is a big brownie a la mode. YUM!
From Sweetie: q4: I would invent the "pack-your-lunch" diet. Instead of always buying fast food, pack your lunch so this way you know what you are eating (you control it) and you may save some money. This applies to everyone (especially college students). Moms love it too
From Dee: q4: I heard that the 2 cereal bowls a day and another meal will help lose about 2 pounds a week... i would love to be able to do that but i dont have the determination and self control that it requires.
From Cas: 4: i think that people shoudl balance their diets. Where's the fun in not eating any carbs? I could never live without bread! i think people should just exercise a little self-control, or for that matter maybe just exercise? Hmm....now there's an idea.
From Tone Loc: q4: I would do the High school wrestler diet. Eat as much as you can on sunday and then dont eat at all throughout the week. Wear trashbags to work out in and if you do go eat something if you have to spit into a coca cola cup. Those abs will be rippling in no time.
From Fereme la Buche: q4: Id make the hungry man diet, wake up eat a small breakfast of cheerios , 4 slices of bacon, 2 eegs, one buttered bagel and, orange juice.(9:00 am) Then for lunch: 4 pepperoni breadsticks with cheese, And maybe a bannana.(2:30) for dinner: pasta, salad, garlic bread. For tuckertime: Back to cheerios (10:30-12:00) (maybe some oreos)
From Shell: q4: Back to Nature Diet Eat foods that nature has produced without man modifying them. Look at the food and decide how much, if any, man has changed it's original form Instead of crackers or chips eat nuts. Eat meat that hasn't been processed like chicken breast fillets not chicken nuggets. Eat veggies fresh or frozen without the added noodles and sauces. Eat cheeses that are harder or more solid like cheddar not Velveeta types. Definately exercise! Make it something you like to do, don't buy exercise equipment just because the experts say to do so or all your friends have them if you hate to do that kind of thing. Again back to nature - walk, play a sport, ride a bike, dance, stretches etc... Develope the mental attitude to feel healthy and say no when you need to, even when others think your silly. Once in awhile treat yourself, indulge! Movie popcorn or a Heath Bar blizzard! Be sure to eat more veggies on that day.
From Endless: q4: The Poor College Kid Diet. Stock up... its going to be a long semester. For breakfast, have an apple. just one..... get a bag.. really cheap... they'll last you a week or more. lunch... lunch meat! best creation ever. load it up with mustard, mayo... whatever floats the boat... have something non-carbonated for a beverage. water...iced tea.... could work. maybe some raw veggies on the side. carrots... celery. and.... last... DINNER... here is what i consider the largest meal of the day. canned food is nice... convenient... not too expensive. maybe some dinty moore beef stew.... some rolls with butter on the side..... there ya go. q4: How about the Holiday diet? You can eat mashed potatoes, green beans, ham, turkey, pumpkin pie, apple pie, donuts, bisquits and gravy, corn, and more. It is awesome! You will lose weight if you follow this diet plan and take this pill that goes with it. It is completly safe, all it does is eat up all the fat and sugar in your body so you get skinny. Dont even worry about health, its the healthiest thing since, hmmm, fried chicken. Yeah, you can have that too!! And you will lose weight. Guaranteed or your money back.
From Home Fries: q4: My diet is easy: JOIN THE ARMY!!!! (or any armed forces for that matter......except maybe the navy o coastguard.....they're wussies...) You HAVE to exercise and while you may think you're starving half the time your really just raising your metabolism and eating healthy. While you will pray for something other than chicken for dinner, (they have as many recipies for chicken as Bubba Gump does for shrimp) when you get out you'll realize that you don't want anything else for awhile. I was in the best shape of my life after Basic Training and while I was in AIT. (It helps to immediatly follow that with the broke down college kid diet combined with the work in a sweltering fish store with all that humidity diet......... Hamburger Helper and Lipton Rice Packets become your all-loving God)
From ds: q4: Now introducing the WEEKEND DIET! All you have to do is eat things that you like or looovvee, and worry about the consequences during the week. Eat all the snack food you crave, but your worried about your weight you say. That's what the week is for. Do all the good eating habits during the week, and splurge on the weekends. Enjoy your weekends you deserve it after a week of work, school, and everything else you have to juggle during your hurried week lifestyle.
From tin: q4: The next diet craze is a cup of the best coffee and a fish sandwich, with a sony laptop, buy my new book for $19.99 and I'll tell you why.

You'll all be RICH soon enough! :)