In the Classroom
Biochemistry Wordsearches Terry L. Helser Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, SUNY College, Oneonta, NY 13820-4015;
[email protected] Want to treat your students with some fun and help them learn biochemical vocabulary? A collection of wordsearches is available at JCE Online.1 Recent additions include puzzles on amino acids, nucleotide synthesis, and photosynthesis. Each wordsearch contains names, terms, abbreviations, and acronyms that describe the process. After finding all the words in each search, use the remaining letters to solve an additional puzzle. For example, the clue in the amino acid wordsearch describes a disease. The nucleotide synthesis wordsearch culminates with a sentence that describes an application of the process. The photosynthesis puzzle leads the student to summarize what ultimately occurs during this process. Your success will be rewarded. Good hunting!
Note 1. Go to http://www.jce.divched.org/Journal/Search/index.html to find more wordsearches. Type “Helser” in the author field or “wordsearch” in the title field.
Supporting JCE Online Material
http://www.jce.divched.org/Journal/Issues/2008/ /abs515.html Abstract and keywords Full text (PDF) Supplement Amino acid synthesis wordsearch puzzle and puzzle solution
A S Y N T H E S I S begins with N (N2) F . Symbiotic R bacteria use F and A to reduce N2 to A with N .A ion is then added to α-KG to form G using N . Glu then makes G , , and . Similarly, O A is transaminated by Glu to give A and then A ( ). Pyruvate gives and 3-phosphoglycerate makes Ser, , and . These are all essential because you can make them. E ones include H , made from R -5-P; V and from pyruvate; and , , Met, and , from Asp. Key cofactors in these pathways are tetra and S M . Aromatic aminoacids start with and a tetrose to make S , then C to P and or to T using P . Defects here cause PKU and . Finally, I and F I regulate synthesis. Use the remaining letters to fill in this sentence:
IS
. Explain!
Example of amino acid synthesis wordsearch. This wordsearch and others can be found in the online material.
© Division of Chemical Education • www.JCE.DivCHED.org • Vol. 85 No. 4 April 2008 • Journal of Chemical Education
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