title: Teaching nutritional biochemistry: an experimental approach using yeast.
abstract: In this report, we present a practical approach to teaching several topics in nutrition to science students at the high school and college freshmen levels. This approach uses baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a biological system model. The diameters of yeast colonies, which vary according to the nutrients present in the medium, can be observed, compared, and used to teach metabolic requirements. The experiments described in this report show simple macroscopic evidence of submicroscopic nutritional events. This can serve as a useful base for an analogy of heterotrophic human cell nutrition.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Ciclo Básico Común, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. m_alonso@live.com.ar
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stella
mesh_terms: D001671:Biochemistry / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000502:physiology*; D013334:Students; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media