Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a recessive genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase, the enzyme that converts phenylalanine to tyrosine. Untreated PKU is characterized by a build-up of phenylalanine and its metabolites, in the blood and eventually brain, which can lead to brain damage. Nutritional management of PKU involves a low protein (and therefore low phenylalanine) diet, and supplementation with a phenylalanine-free protein supplement. However, phenylalanine can also accumulate in the blood (and therefore brain) when someone with PKU becomes sick and/or has a poor appetite. Why might illness and/or poor appetite in a person with PKU cause the accumulation of phenylalanine in the blood/brain? (hint: consider your response to question #10 above) (3-6 sentences)

What is dietary fiber? What health benefit(s) are associated with: (a) viscous, gel-forming dietary fiber, and (b) fermentable dietary fiber? (3-5 sentences)

Red blood cells (RBCs) do not convert pyruvate to acetyl-CoA to enter the TCA cycle, and instead produce lactic acid. This is an anaerobic process. This might seem odd, since RBCs carry oxygen. Why are RBCs unable to convert pyruvate to acetyl-CoA? What other metabolic pathways are RBCs incapable of? (3-5 sentences)

Which metabolic pathways tend to occur in the fasting state? Please address each of the macronutrients (carbohydrates, lipids, and protein), and include relevant tissue-specific metabolism. (6-10 sentences)

Describe the four components of total energy expenditure? (4-5 sentences)

A person’s weight status can be impacted by a multitde of factors. The social ecological model identifies “layers” of factors that can influence health outcomes: individual, relationship (or interpersonal), community, and societal. For each “layer” of the social ecological model, give one example of a factor that could impact a person’s weight status, and a brief explanation. These can be directly related to topics we have discussed, but can also bring in knowledge from outside of this course. You do not need to write in complete sentences; you may simply list the examples and their brief explanation, but please indicate which “layer” each example comes from. ** This is worth 4 possible points of extra credit (1 point per layer).

A continuous state of tension, fearfulness, and autonomic nervous system arousal characterizes __________. 

Hearing the word “apple” may lead people to spell the spoken word “pair” as ‘p-e-a-r.” This best illustrates the outcome of a process known as:  

Autotrophs are the of the biosphere, whereas Heterotrophs are the of the biosphere.

Which fishing method involves dragging weighted nets across the ocean floor to catch benthic organisms?