Remember...diabetes is a disease that occurs when blood glucose (i.e., blood sugar) is elevated because the body isn't making enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. The glucose then builds up in the blood, and doesn’t reach the cells where it is needed as an energy source. Over time, having too much blood glucose causes the serious and chronic health problems associated with diabetes.
Because the blood glucose levels (BGLs) in diabetics are not well regulated, their diet becomes much more important. Primarily, diabetics have to be concerned with the frequency and types of carbohydrates they consume. Carbohydrates can be identified by their glycemic index (GI), which is a measure of how quickly the carbohydrate is broken down into its component parts to be used by the body.
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Lab 2: ProtocolIn today's lab you will learn how to use a micropipette. You will set up experiments to try and predict the glycemic index of unknown food items and, if time allows, you can continue analysis of the diabetes data.
Exercise I. Accuracy, Precision & the Pipette Exercise II. Chemical Indicator Tests Exercise III. Predict the Glycemic Index |
Review the parts of a micropipette:
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At the beginning of lab, your instructor will demonstrate how to properly use a micropipette. Watch carefully and follow along. |
Your task in Exercise II is to conduct a series of tests, using chemical indicators, to predict the glycemic index score of unknown food items.
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Materials: Your Tool Kit
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Procedure
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Indicator Protocols |
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![]() Email: [email protected]
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Dr. Jacobshagen is extremely interested in clocks; not the kind hanging on the wall or on your phone, but biological clocks and circadian rhythms. She explores these internal physiological regulators, like the sleep/wake cycle, using algae as a model organism. Projects in her lab center on particular types of macromolecules called, photoreceptor proteins that are able to reset these circadian clocks. She is an accomplished researcher in the field of biochemistry and teaches our BioChem courses. She is also heavily involved with the Biochemisty Major. Reach out to her if you found Lab 2 particularity interesting or if you're still trying to decide what track you'd like to pursue in our department. |