"Catalase," an enzyme found in both plant and animal cells, prevents the accumulation of toxic levels of hydrogen peroxide (H[subscript 2]O[subscript 2]) by catalyzing its decomposition to water and oxygen gas. Because this enzyme is ubiquitous, it is frequently used in high school biology laboratories to explore enzyme reactions. This…

Production of liquid fuels such as ethanol from fibrous plant biomass could potentially be a significant sustainable component of the U.S. energy portfolio. Engineers and scientists are actively researching this area, and high school students can engage in this contemporary inquiry process by experimenting with different types of biomass, varying…

In this article, the authors describe a two-phase inquiry lesson in which students explore the catalytic activity of amylase on starch (Rungruangsa and Panijpan 1979). In the first phase, students' prior knowledge about the reaction is assessed through a set of directed prompts and small-group discussion, then challenged or reinforced as students…

Defines learning and memory and presents experimental evidence that indicates that learning and memory are chemical in nature. (JR)

Describes an inquiry lab that helps students discover the chemical nature of enzymes. (PR)

Described are several laboratory investigations that may be used to introduce biochemistry. Topics covered include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and metabolism. Reactions, stock solution formulas, and procedures are listed. Emphasized are individualizing work, designing alternative investigations, solving problems, and drawing conclusions. (KR)