Biomolecules: common misconceptions

If your child says… “Water can split every carbohydrate into simpler sugars.”

Ask together

Once glucose stands alone, which link between sugar units remains to break?

What’s true

Hydrolysis releases no simpler sugars from monosaccharides, a few from oligosaccharides, and many from polysaccharides.

If your child says… “Cooling puts cooked protein back into its original shape.”

Ask together

Both portions are cool now, so why does only one flow?

What’s true

Cooling cooked egg white does not restore its original protein folding.

If your child says… “The enzyme works equally fast whatever surrounds it.”

Ask together

Could changing pH affect how this active site works?

What’s true

An enzyme’s activity depends on conditions including temperature and pH.

If your child says… “Any vitamin can make up for another missing vitamin.”

Ask together

Would supplying vitamin A fill a shortage of vitamin C?

What’s true

A vitamin’s identity determines its functions, so vitamins cannot simply replace one another.

If your child says… “Any base can pair with any other base.”

Ask together

If any partner fitted, could the visible strand specify one exact hidden sequence?

What’s true

In DNA, A pairs with T, while C pairs with G.

If your child says… “Every cell responds to every hormone.”

Ask together

What would a cell need to recognise one hormone’s message?

What’s true

A cell needs a suitable receptor to respond to a particular hormone.