Bio Report

SBI4U1

Unit Two: Metabolic Processes

STSE Assignment

Relating Science to Technology, Society and the Environment

Main Focus:

Analyse the role of metabolic processes in the functioning of and interactions between biotic and abiotic systems

(e.g., specialized microbes and enzymes in biotechnological applications to treat wastewater in the pulp and paper

industry; microbes and enzymes in bioremediation, such as in the cleanup of oil spills; energy transfer from

producers to consumers)

Procedure:

Choose one of the following two sample issues that interest you and then one of the questions under the sample

issue to focus on. Research and produce a short report on the issue and focus of your choice.

Sample Issue One:
Most restaurants dispose of cooking oil and grease in an environmentally sound way to

avoid contaminating municipal sewer systems. One method they can use is bioaugmentation, which uses

microorganisms to metabolize oils into bacterial biomass, carbon dioxide, and water. However, this process can

create unpleasant odours, which are undesirable in a food service setting.

Sample questions:

1. How do symbiotic bacteria use metabolic processes to produce bio-hydrogen from food waste?

2. How are microbes used in the bioremediation of contaminated groundwater and other water sites?

Sample Issue Two:
Some fad weight-loss diets include pills that are believed to speed up the body’s metabolism

to help a person lose weight quickly. Other diets rely on very low calorie intake for rapid weight loss. However,

such methods can lead to destructive metabolic processes in the body, causing organ failure.

Sample questions:

1. How does stem-cell research related to degenerative diseases use technologies to change the metabolic

processes of the cells?

2. Why is it important when changing your diet to know how the cells in your body will react to the

introduction of new substances or the removal of other substances? Explain the diet and possible

implications.

Format of Report:

Standard research paper format including a title page, table of contents, embedded notes for references, sub-titles

and reference page/work cited (not a bibliography)

Please do not exceed 4 typed pages (not including the table of contents and ref/work cited page as well as

diagrams)

Due Date: April 15th 2013, at 12pm. (Toronto, Canada Time Zone)