Students learn that fats found in the foods we eat are not all the same; they discover that physical properties of materials are related to their chemical structures. Provided with several samples of commonly used fats with different chemical properties (olive oil, vegetable oil, shortening, animal fat and butter), student groups build and use simple LEGO MINDSTORMS(TM) NXT robots with temperature and light sensors to determine the melting points of the fat samples. Because of their different chemical structures, these fats exhibit different physical properties, such as melting point and color. This activity uses the fact that fats are opaque when solid and translucent when liquid to determine the melting point of each sample upon being heated. Students heat the samples, and use the robot to determine when samples are melted. They analyze plots of their collected data to compare melting points of the oil samples to look for trends. Discrepancies are correlated to differences in the chemical structure and composition of the fats.

Biology 2e is designed to cover the scope and sequence requirements of a typical two-semester biology course for science majors. The text provides comprehensive coverage of foundational research and core biology concepts through an evolutionary lens. Biology includes rich features that engage students in scientific inquiry, highlight careers in the biological sciences, and offer everyday applications. The book also includes various types of practice and homework questions that help students understand—and apply—key concepts. The 2nd edition has been revised to incorporate clearer, more current, and more dynamic explanations, while maintaining the same organization as the first edition. Art and illustrations have been substantially improved, and the textbook features additional assessments and related resources.

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Describe the four major types of lipids
Explain the role of fats in storing energy
Differentiate between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids
Describe phospholipids and their role in cells
Define the basic structure of a steroid and some steroid functions
Explain how cholesterol helps maintain the plasma membrane's fluid nature

Learn about how the Western Diet, made up of lots of meat and highly processed foods full of salt, sugar and fat, leads to big profits for food companies and poor health for people. [3:35]

In this video, learn how Leo Koch (age 9, Maine) chooses healthy foods, like those in his Healthy Lunchtime Challenge winning recipe for Vegan Superhero Soup, to fuel his competitive running and help manage his diabetes. Leo leads an active life. As a type 1 diabetic, his nutritional needs demand added scrutiny. Because the body processes nutrients in different ways, Leo analyzes foods for their protein, fat, and carbohydrate contents. [2:45] Check out the Support Materials below for Teaching Tips and a link to a customizable student handout.