LAB: CSI: Thanksgiving - Macromolecules

Crime Scenario Background:

Ms. INSERT TEACHER’S NAME Mad Scientist twin sister, Dr. INSERT TEACHER’S NAME, has been secretly
growing genetically engineered pumpkins for pumpkin pie in Ms. INSERT TEACHER’S NAME’ stockroom at
Northwest, without Ms. INSERT TEACHER’S NAME’ knowledge. Dr. INSERT TEACHERS NAME added a special
firefly gene to the DNA of the genetically engineered pumpkins. The gene, called luciferase (meaning light), produces an
enzyme (protein) which makes the pumpkins glow. Dr. INSERT TEACHERS NAME will be a millionaire if she can
market the pumpkins for Halloween. Dr. INSERT TEACHER’S NAME, unlike Ms. INSERT TEACHER’S NAME, was
not very smart. She began bragging about her pumpkin discovery to her 2 questionable friends: Christy “Wheat Bread”
Jones, occupation: Bread Baker and Ted “T-Bone Steak” Smith, occupation: Meat Butcher. Using your knowledge
of macromolecules (Carbohydrates, Lipids and Proteins), you will need to determine who the thief or thieves were based
on the crime scene evidence.

Crime Scene Preliminary Evidence Police Report:

This morning, INSERT DATE, at INSERT TIME, Ms. INSERT TEACHER’S NAME entered her classroom to find the
stockroom door open and a smashed genetically engineered pumpkin on her floor, oozing an orange substance. Wet
orange footprints were found near the scene. A smudgy substance was found on the door handle to the stockroom. No
fingerprints or DNA were found.

Investigation:
As a CSI (Crime Scene Investigator) specializing in macromolecules, you will need to analyze the evidence found at the
crime scene to determine which suspect may have stolen the genetically engineered pumpkin from Ms. INSERT
TEACHER’S NAME’ stockroom. Use the lab data collected and the information in the suspect report to help you. It may
be only one or both suspects who are guilty. When you have decided on a suspect, you will need to turn in a warrant for
their arrest (attached to the lab sheets). Ms. INSERT TEACHER’S NAME, who moonlights as a judge, will approve or
deny the warrant based on the strength of evidence you put together in your investigation. Make sure you don’t wrongly
accuse someone who is innocent!!!

Suspect Report:
The suspects are Dr. INSERT NAME HERE two questionable friends:

1. Christy (AKA “Wheat Bread”) Jones, occupation: Bread Baker

 Always covered in flour and starch from baking
 Orange substance found on shoes at house – claims she stepped in orange Jell-O split on her kitchen
floor
2. Ted (AKA “T-Bone Steak”) Smith, occupation: Meat Butcher
 Clothes and shoes usually contaminated with meat and fat
 Orange substance found on shoes at house – claims he stepped in orange juice spilt on his kitchen floor

Evidence List: Your evidence list will contain the following

1. Sample of orange ooze from smash pumpkin at crime scene
2. Sample of smudgy substance found on stockroom door handle
3. Samples of orange substances found both suspects shoes
a. Christy (AKA “Wheat Bread”) Jones, occupation: Bread Baker
b. Ted (AKA “T-Bone Steak”) Smith, occupation: Meat Butcher

Safety:
1. Wear goggles at all times.
2. Wear an apron at all times.
3. Solutions, stains, and reagents are dangerous. They may irritate the skin or cause staining of the skin and/or clothing.
4. Use extreme care when working with heated equipment or materials to avoid burns.
5. NEVER handle hot glassware without proper equipment.
6. Be careful to avoid breakage when working with glassware.
7. Wash hands with soap and water when you are finished with the lab.
8. IF IN DOUBT...ASK MS. INSERT TEACHER’S NAME!!!
Outline:
1. You will need to test the crime scene evidence to determine the macromolecules present (carbs, lipids
and proteins), in the unknown substances at the crime scene: (the orange substance oozing from the
pumpkin and the smudgy substance on the door handle).
2. On your CHART, Make a hypothesis of what each substance may be based on the macromolecule
test results and the suspects’ occupations (starch, meat, fat, etc).
3. You will then test each suspect’s shoes to see if the orange substance on the shoes matches that found at
the crime scene oozing from the genetically engineered pumpkin.
4. You will submit a warrant for the suspect(s) you think is/are guilty to Judge Ms. INSERT TEACHER’S
NAME with evidence to support your claim. She will approve or deny the warrant based on your
evidence.

Procedure: You will need to test each substance for carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.

***You will be testing each substance for Carbohydrates (4 test tubes), Lipids (4 test tubes), & Proteins (4 test tubes) =
12 test tubes. Take a wax pencil and label each one of your test tubes the following:

 1C/ 2C/ 3C/ 4C  Carbohydrates for each piece of evidence.

 1L/ 2L/ 3L/ 4L  Lipid Test for each piece of evidence.
 1P/ 2P/ 3P/ 4P  Protein Test for each piece of evidence

Carbohydrate test:
1. Obtain test tubes 1C – 4C & add 5mL of the each substance to its correct test tube.
2. Place each test tube back into the test tube rack.
3. Add 5 drops of Iodine solution to the first test tube (1C). Caution: Iodine solution is poisonous and will stain your
hands and clothes if you aren’t careful.
4. Carefully swirl contents making sure not to spill any of the solution.
5. Record a positive (+) or negative (-) result for the Iodine solution test, on your data table.
 If the solution changes from YELLOW-BROWN to BLACK-PURPLE, starch is PRESENT.

Lipid test:
1. Obtain test tubes 1L – 4L & add 5mL of the each substance to its correct test tube.
2. Place each test tube back into the test tube rack.
3. Add 5 drops of Sudan III stain to the first test tube (1L). Caution: Sudan III stain will stain your hands and
clothes if you aren’t careful
4. Carefully swirl contents making sure not to spill any of the solution
5. Record a positive (+) or negative (-) result for the Sudan III stain test, on your data table.
 If the solution changes to RED, then a LIPID is present.
6. Take a brown paper bag & divide the bag into 4 parts.
7. Label each part according to your evidence  Pumpkin/ Door-knob/ Bread Baker/ Meat Butcher
8. Using a different Popsicle stick for each substance, rub a small portion of each substance onto the brown paper bag.
Wait for 2 minutes….
9. Record a positive (+) or negative (-) result on the data table for each substance.
 If the section of the bag is TRANSLUCENT, a lipid is PRESENT.

Protein test:
1. Obtain test tubes 1P – 4P & add 5mL of the each substance to its correct test tube.
2. Place each test tube back into the test tube rack.
3. Add 5 drops of Biuret’s reagent to the first test tube (1P). Caution: Biuret’s solution contains a strong base. If
you get any of this solution on your skin, wash with soap and water immediately. Have your partner get me
immediately as well
4. Carefully swirl contents making sure not to spill any of the solution
5. Record a positive (+) or negative (-) result for the Biuret’s reagent test, on your data table.
 If the solution changes from YELLOW to BLUE-VIOLET, then the protein is PRESENT.
 LAB: CSI Halloween Macromolecules
Crime Scene Report Sheet

Pre-Lab Questions: Read the lab sheets & answer the questions using the lab and your Organic
Compound Notes/ Chart.

1. Explain all safety precautions necessary in lab.

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. What is a macromolecule and list the four types of macromolecules discussed in class?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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3. Name the three types of carbohydrates. What type(s) of carbohydrate is tested for in this lab? How do you test for this type of
carbohydrate? _______________________________________________________________________________
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4. Name two types of proteins found in the “Crime Scene Scenario Background”. How do you test for proteins?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. Name 3 types of lipids. How do you test for lipids?

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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6. What macromolecule(s) would Ted (T-Bone Steak) Smith leave behind at a crime scene?
__________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What macromolecule(s) would Christy (Wheat Bread) Jones leave behind at a crime scene?
__________________________________________________________________________________________

8. What macromolecules might be contained in the genetically engineered pumpkin? Why?

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CSI Macromolecule Data Table:

Test Substance Predictions Carbohydrate +/- Lipids +/- Lipids Protein +/-
(does the evidence include (brown bag)
carbs/ Lipids/proteins) +/-
Pumpkin (1)

Doorknob (2)

Bread Baker (3)

Meat Butcher (4)

 OFFICIAL WARRANT
CSI Division
We, the CSI Macromolecule specialist team of NWCTA, hereby believe suspect(s)
___________________________________________________________________

Are guilty of the crime ________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Based on the evidence that _____________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________
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CSI Team Signatures ___________________________

(PRINTED) ___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
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Approved _____________ Denied________________

Signature___________________
Judge Ms. INSERT TEACHER’S NAME