Question

the elephants diet consists of plant material which is high in cellulose. collagen is a protein found in skin. skin cells can be replaced every 2 weeks. the elephant needs collagen to replace and/or repair these skin cells.

1. what is released between steps 2 and 3?
2. what is released between steps 3 and 4?
3. what is released between steps 4 and 5?
4. what elements are present in step 5, and where did they come from?
5. based on your carbon - based molecule building activity from model 1, what could these atoms be used to build?
6. if an elephant needs collagen to repair its skin cells, what element is missing from cellulose that would be needed to make collagen? (hint: see model 1 for element composition of macromolecules)
7. what macromolecule is able to provide that element that is already in the elephants diet?

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze steps 2 - 3

Typically in biological macromolecule breakdown, water is released during hydrolysis - like reactions. Without seeing the full model details, water is a common release.

Step2: Analyze steps 3 - 4

Often in metabolic or molecular - breakdown steps, smaller organic molecules or monomers can be released. If it's a breakdown of a polymer, monomers such as monosaccharides (if it's a carbohydrate - related process) could be released.

Step3: Analyze steps 4 - 5

If step 4 is a further breakdown of a molecule from step 3, simple inorganic molecules like carbon - dioxide or more monomers might be released depending on the nature of the macromolecule being broken down.

Step4: Analyze elements in step 5

Elements in step 5 could be carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen etc. If it's a breakdown of a biological molecule, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are common from carbohydrates and fats, and nitrogen could come from proteins if they are part of the process. They come from the original macromolecules in the diet (in this case, plant - based materials for the elephant).

Step5: Analyze carbon - based molecule building

Carbon - based atoms can be used to build carbohydrates (e.g., glucose for energy storage or structural polysaccharides), lipids (e.g., fatty acids for energy or membrane - building), proteins (e.g., for growth and repair) and nucleic acids (e.g., for genetic information storage and expression).

Step6: Analyze element for collagen

Collagen is a protein. Proteins contain nitrogen, while cellulose (a carbohydrate) mainly contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. So nitrogen is the missing element.

Step7: Analyze macromolecule for nitrogen

Proteins in the elephant's diet (if any, as plants can also have some nitrogen - containing compounds like amino - acids) can provide the nitrogen needed for collagen synthesis.

Answer:

1. Water (most likely)
2. Monomers (e.g., monosaccharides if carbohydrate - related)
3. Simple inorganic molecules (e.g., carbon - dioxide) or monomers
4. Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen (from carbohydrates/fats), nitrogen (if proteins are involved); from original macromolecules in diet
5. Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
6. Nitrogen
7. Proteins