Got Bio? A Short Course Introducing Students to the Applications of Biochemistry

摘要

Have you ever thought about which pigments are found in tattoos and how laser treatment eliminates the pigmentation? In pursuit of losing weight, have you considered why artificial sweeteners are advertised as low calorie? During a four-week South Carolina Governor's School course, Got Bio?, high school students were introduced to the biochemistry behind some of the latest trends related to tattooing, dieting, and drug treatment. The course was taught by conventional lectures that were reinforced by innovative hands-on activities and laboratory experiments that required critical thinking. Topics were the chemistry of color, fuel metabolism, and basic drug design. Got Bio? introduced students to the field of biochemistry to help them understand and appreciate that the world around them is not abstract but concrete.