For this lab, we had to curdle milk into cheese so we could see which macromolecules it contains. We had to go through three different parts to learn about this.
PART 1:
For the first part of the project, we had to test multiple curdling agents to see which one curdled the quickest.
PART 2:
For the second part of the project, we had change one of the variables. Our group changed the amount of the curdling agent we were trying to incubate.
PART 3:
The last portion of the project was for analyzing the composition of the cheese to see what macromolecules it contained.
Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates provide the energy that is necessary for cells to function
Macro-molecules: A molecule containing a very large number of atoms, such as a protein, nucleic acid, or synthetic polymer. The four main classes being carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
Nucleic acids: A complex organic substance present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain. Nucleic acids store and transmit genetic information that you inherited from your parents
Protein: A macro-molecule; a class of nitrogenous organic compounds that consist of large molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids and are an essential part of all living organisms
Lipids: Any of a class of organic compounds that are fatty acids or their derivatives and are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. They include many natural oils, waxes, and steroids.
REFLECTION:
This was one of the weirdest projects I've had to do in STEM. Having to curdle cheese was quite a strange task. It was pretty easy to follow though. Having a good group who communicated well also helped. We were always on the same page and the work was distributed evenly among us. We could've been more creative with our procedure though, instead of just changing the amount, we could've came up with something better. I learned that I am very adaptive when working with different people. I learned that about my teammates as well. Overall, even though this was a very strange project, it was still very fun and educational.