Biology, Tuesday, 9/12, Period 2

[blonde-doctor.livejournal.com]

Elliot grins at the class as they file in, and four lab stations are arranged in the back of the room.

"Hi, guys. We need to do a little bit of chemistry this week before we get into the serious biology. The kind of chemistry used in biology is called biochemistry, or the chemistry of life. There's a whole long chapter in your books about it, but basically it's the study of the chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. Since life forms alive today are believed to have descended from the same common ancestor, they naturally have similar biochemistries -- even for things you'd think might be random, like the genetic code or handedness of various biomolecules.

"Biochemistry is the study of the structure and function of cellular components, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules. The biochemistry of cell metabolism and the endocrine system has been extensively described. Other areas of biochemistry include the genetic code -- DNA and RNA -- protein synthesis, cell membrane transport, and signal transduction.

"Today, you're going to split into four groups of three. Each group will test an everyday food for three common kinds of organic molecules -- sugars, proteins and fats. Before you do that, let me show you the experiments you need to do to test for those things."

She proceeded to manipulate a series of vials through experiments to test for sugars, proteins, and fats before waving the students back to the lab tables. " Each group should test one kind of food. I'm not going to assign groups this week, but I might start to in the future. Let me know what you guys would prefer."

Comments

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker looks from hers to Aeryn's, and says, "Is it supposed to be all cloudy? It's clear in the picture. And also? Orange."

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[can_be_more]

"I have no idea. As long as it changes to some other color, I'm fine with it," Aeryn shrugs.

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker shook her head, frowned at the beaker and said, "This is what I pay other people for. Like making really great shoes. I'll pay lots of money for people to do valuable things that I don't want to." She backed up, looked at the vials again, and then went back to the directions, trying to figure out where she made a mistake. "How are the rest of your classes going?"

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[can_be_more]

"Much less frustrating," Aeryn says, tapping her beaker again. "Yours?"

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Interstellar Relations is good," Parker said absently, deciding to add more iodine. Maybe that was the problem. "Although I wish I'd ever been off-planet for comparison. Same with Astronomy." She growled at the beaker as the blue-- started to smoke a little. "Um. Uh?"

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[can_be_more]

Aeryn frowns. "Even I know that's bad," she says helpfully.

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker grabbed some tongs and then very carefully moved the beaker over to the sink, pouring it out just as it started to bubble and froth. "Do you think trying to learn chemistry at Fandom might not be the same as trying to learn chemistry anywhere else?"

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[can_be_more]

"I'm not supposed to have anything to do with chemistry," she says, adding another drop of something or other just to see what happens, and this is why we shouldn't let Aeryn handle substances like this. "Though that might be entirely possible."

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker starts over, re-heating the solution and timing it, and looks curious as she waits. "You never had any chemistry requirements before? I think I'm jealous. It's not like *I'm* going to use it." Except to try and stop Centre scientists from creating a better nanovirus, or something equally horrifying.

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[can_be_more]

"Well, it isn't as if I went to school," says Aeryn, frowning at her beaker, then pushing it away where it can do whatever it feels like doing. "This is just something new."

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

The solution finishes heating, and Parker adds some of the Benedict's solution, drop by drop, and then very carefully adds the water. So far, so good. At least there's no smoke. "Okay, that makes no sense. You had training, you got an education in tactics-- what's that, if it's not school?"

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[can_be_more]

"It was training, but nothing like this," she says. "And we never called it education."

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Hunh." Parker frowns, but starts to look hopeful, as maybe, possibly, her vial begins to look... purple. "What would you have called it? I mean, I don't expect fighter pilots to be chemists, but-- I don't get where the divide is. This is standard for high school here."

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[can_be_more]

"It's training. That really is the best word for it," she says simply. "We're trained in what we need to know. We have scientists and medical staff and techs and soldiers, and there's no reason to cross over between those."

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

The vial is going from purple to red, and Parker's ready to settle for that. "Hunh. Good thing you liked being a pilot. Or did they make you a pilot because you liked it?"

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[can_be_more]

"Both, really. I showed aptitude, it suited me, I suited it," she says, shrugging. "It worked out well."

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker nods, then writes down her results. "The only reason I can see to take this-- aside from not looking ignorant among the geeks-- is to be able to order the geeks around." She sighs. "Which is valid enough. All the things we're required to do to prove we deserve a diploma."

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[can_be_more]

"It's much easier and efficient for everyone to leave others alone and do it yourself anyway. More people should learn that lesson," says Aeryn, getting up to dump out her beaker.

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker made a face, then finished her part of her report, grumbling to herself, "'If you want something done right, do it yourself.' Who knew you and my father would agree on something."

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[can_be_more]

"It's true," she says. "And a lot less stressful on everyone involved. Especially if you have a definite idea of how you want things done and won't be satisfied with the results anyway."

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker's mood calms a bit as she thinks about it, turning over ideas in her head. "Hmmmmmmm." Well, it certainly applies to certain future plans she has, anyway. "Definite ideas, yes. Dissatisfaction with results... maybe." She raises an eyebrow at Aeryn. "Does that apply to you too?" She gathers up the equipment to wash it, and is careful to turn off the burner.

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[can_be_more]

"I've learned to be lenient in results I do nothing to achieve myself," she says simply.

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Which works fine everywhere but the Centre. Some days, Parker wishes she were schizoid in order to deal with the disconnect between there and everywhere else. "One more reason to be glad I'm not on StuCo this semester. Since I doubt I could break that habit in time to either learn mercy, or not set off my ulcer."

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[can_be_more]

She considers this, and nods. "Probably for the best, then," she agrees.

Re: Workstation II - Nuts

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Yeah." Parker's gonna miss it, but not the possibility of a meltdown, nope. "Up for a spar this weekend? I promise not to try to give you orders," she added, remembering their last conversation before this.