BIO 231: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
Unit 3 Pub Session
Directions
An Incredible Hulk model in the exhibit hall during the fourth day of the Comic-Con International 2011 convention
held in San Diego Sunday, July 24, 2011. The annual comic book and popular arts convention attracts over 100,000
people and runs through Sunday July 24. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
1.
Post your initial answer to the following questions.
a. What's going on with the Hulk's skin? What physiological adaptations occur within the
skin to change its color? Think about the last time you got a suntan. In our "make
believe" land, similar events occur to change Dr. Banner's skin color. To help you get
started, here's a list of or words you might use in your discussion.
 keratinocytes, keratin
 melanocytes, melanin
 stratum (s.) corneum, s. granulosum, s. lucidum, s. spinosum, s. basale
 langerhans cells
 dermis, dermal papillae, loose areolar CT, dense irregular CT
 hemoglobin, carotene
b. Here's another question:
The Hulk needs to generate massive amounts of ATP to fuel both his slow twitch and
fast twitch muscle fibers. Slow twitch and fast twitch muscles have a tendency to burn
different substrates for the production of energy. Take a look again at the Hulk's usual
activities. In general, what biochemical substrate does he burn to produce energy?
How do you think he would do running a marathon? Why? (For you Superhero geeks,
let's ignore Hulk's healing powers and only consider this answer based on the
observable properties of his muscles)
To help you get started, here's a list of words you might use in your discussion.



glucose, glycolysis, pyruvate, lactate
mitochondria, acetyl CoA, decarboxylation
citric acid cycle, oxaloacetate, citric acid, NADH, FADH2
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BIO 231: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
2.
3.
 electron transport chain, hydrogen ion, gradient, ATP synthase
 fatty acid, glycerol, beta oxidation, glyceradldehyde 3 phosphate
 protein, amino acids, transamination, deamination, amine, urea
 glycogen, adipose, myosin, ATPase
Begin reading and viewing the resources for this unit to learn the concepts for this unit and
reflect on your answer to the questions above.
Contribute your ideas to advance the discussion using the concepts you have been learning. Your
ideas can include any or all of the following:
o
o
o
o
4.
Answers - These are your proposed answers to any of the questions that have been raised.
Challenges - These are attempts to disprove an answer that has been proposed.
Observations - These are statements of fact that you have learned that can be used to
support or refute a proposed answer. These usually require a citation.
Questions - These are additional questions that you think are relevant to the discussion.
Continue to contribute to the discussion regularly throughout the unit. The discussion will end
when all questions have plausible answers not easily refuted or the unit ends.
Grading
The pub session discussions are worth 15% of your grade. You can find the expectations for the discussion
activity in Assignments > Introduction to the Course of your Blackboard course site.
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