Cake, cookies, pie, ice cream, hot chocolate, lemonade... Yum! What do all these delicious treats have in common? Sugar. In addition to providing sweetness, sugar adds bulk, flavor, and structure to foods. But is it necessary to add sugar to achieve sweetness? Can the same sweetness be achieved using sugar substitutes like artificial or natural sweeteners? In this project, you will test sugar and sugar substitutes and compare the sweetness of each in relation to sugar. In the end, your day will…
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FoodSci_p016
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Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Some specialty items needed, see Materials List for details.
No one likes shots, so why don't we swallow all our medications? In this science project, you will use a model to explore one challenge behind making medications we can quickly swallow, using insulin (a medication taken by some diabetes patients) as an example. Will your medication be functional after spending time in an environment similar to the stomach?
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You know that sugar makes food sweet, but did you know that there are different kinds of sugar? Sucrose is the granulated sugar that you usually use for baking. Another kind of sugar, which is found in honey and in many fruits, is glucose. In this science project, you will measure the concentration of glucose in a variety of foods. You will use special test strips that change color in response to glucose to measure the glucose concentration in different foods.
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FoodSci_p049
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
A Sugar Metabolism Kit containing most of the specialty supplies needed for this project is available through the .
You are probably very familiar with the fact that over time, exercise changes your muscles, your lungs, your bones, and even your mindset; but did you know it has an immediate effect on your body's biochemistry? You can see this in the amount of glucose (a type of sugar your body uses for fuel) circulating in your blood. Blood glucose levels change as you exercise. For most people, this is not a big deal. But for top-level athletes in the middle of intense exercise (like a marathon), or for…
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HumBio_p039
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Time Required
Long (2-4 weeks)
Prerequisites
Informed consent must be obtained from participants in this experiment (parental consent must be granted for minors). The experimental design (including consent forms) must be approved by your fair's Scientific Review Committee ([# ProjectGuide Name="Advanced.ScientificReviewCommitteeSRC" Value="HtmlAnchor" HtmlText="SRC" #]).
Material Availability
A blood glucose monitoring system is required to do this science project. See the Materials list for details.
Cost
Average ($40 - $80)
Safety
Follow all safety precautions when using the blood glucose monitoring kit and when handling blood, as described in the Procedure. If somebody who has diabetes wants to participate in this science project, review the safety notes at the beginning of the Procedure before starting.
Do you hate shots? Do you complain about paper cuts? Imagine if you had to give yourself shots a couple of times a day, as well as prick your finger, on purpose, even more frequently. Of course, if you have diabetes you do not have to imagine this; it is your reality. People who have diabetes usually need to keep close track of how much sugar is in their blood (called their blood glucose levels) by testing a drop of blood from a finger prick. If there is too much sugar in their blood, some…
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HumBio_p040
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
Some familiarity with electronic circuits and using breadboards would be helpful, though it is not required for this project. Completion of a basic chemistry class is also recommended before trying this project.
Material Availability
A pump and other electronics parts must be specially ordered to do this project. See the Materials list for details. Estimated project time includes shipping of specialty components.
Cost
Average ($40 - $80)
Safety
Some parts of the circuit can get warm during normal operation. Do not leave the circuit operating when unattended. Be very careful with your wiring to prevent short circuits from happening; short circuits can get very hot and cause plastic parts of the circuit to melt.
Do you enjoy drinking smoothies packed full of berries and other tasty fruits? Or maybe you like drinking a creamy milkshake with peanut butter, chocolate, and bananas. Smoothies and milkshakes are often tasty to us because of the sugar in them. But did you know there are different kinds of sugar? Some ingredients in a smoothie can have more than one kind of sugar in them, and our bodies process each kind of sugar differently. In this science project, you will measure the concentration of…
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FoodSci_p073
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
A sugar metabolism kit containing most of the specialty supplies needed for this project is available through the . If lactase drops are not available in your local drug store or grocery store, you will need to order them online. See the Materials and Equipment section for more details.
Maple syrup on pancakes, ripe bananas, and soft drinks are all foods that are tasty to us
because of the sugar in them. But did you know there are different kinds of
sugar? One food can have multiple kinds of sugar in it, and our bodies actually process
the different types of sugars differently. In this science project, you will measure the
concentration of two sugars—glucose and sucrose—in different foods, and investigate how
sucrose is converted into glucose with the help…
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HumBio_p035
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
A Sugar Metabolism Kit containing most of the specialty supplies needed for this project is available through the .
