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Face the Fats

The Biochemistry of Lipids

By Nancy A. Rice

Face the Fats


 

Abstract

This clicker case introduces students to the biochemistry of lipids through the story of Pete, a college student who begins to consider his nutritional fat intake after watching a commercial for the cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin. In this case, students learn to differentiate the chemical composition of steroids, phospholipids, and fats as well as how lipids affect our health, both in positive and negative ways. Additionally, students learn how trans fats are manufactured and why they can have negative health side-effects. The case is designed for use in an introductory biology course either for science majors or non-majors. It could potentially be further modified for use in an upper-level biochemistry or cell biology class. The case is called a clicker case because it combines the use of PowerPoint slides (~3.74MB) and student response systems ("clickers") with a case storyline and questions. The case could be modifed however for use without these technologies.

   

Date Posted

06/20/2011

Overview

Objectives

  • Define lipid and biochemically differentiate steroid, phospholipid, and fat.
  • Explain the biochemical and nutritional differences between saturated and unsaturated fats.
  • Know how cholesterol and fats are transported through the bloodstream.
  • Understand how trans fats are generated and why they are unhealthy.

Keywords

Fats; lipids; fatty acid; HDL cholesterol; LDL cholesterol; saturated; unsaturated; trans-fat

  

Subject Headings

Biochemistry
Biology (General)
Cell Biology
Food Science / Technology
Nutrition
Public Health

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

  

FORMAT

PDF, PowerPoint

   

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Clicker, Interrupted

 

 

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