Question

I need help with this case study

“Sweet Indigestion” by Peggy Brickman

Part I—Of Cows and Carbs “What’s so funny?” Gwen asked as sheslid next to her friends Sara and Emily at the library.

“Read this,” Sara said. “I’m thinking about getting my dadvaccinated.”

S Y D N E Y, Australia, June 7 — Australian farmers aresigning up their sheep and cattle in droves to take part in avaccine program aimed at reducing harmful methane gas emissionsfrom their animals and help take the heat off global warming.Methane is a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide andfarm animals produce a lot of it. Australian scientists said todayearly results show they may be able to reduce methane emissions peranimal by about 20 percent a year, or the equivalent of 300,000tons of carbon dioxide a year if they can vaccinate three millionanimals. The methane vaccine discourages Methanogenic archae,organisms which inhabit the animal’s digestive system and whichproduce methane by breaking down feed. Reuters 2001.

Gwen laughed, “Your dad? What about your dog? He’s got the realproblem. But seriously, is farting a major

cause of global warming?”

“Well, not all of it, but greenhouse gases could be reduced ifpeople stopped eating meat. Cows actually

produce the vast majority of methane released in the U.S.” Emilyreplied.

“300,000 tons of CO2 in Australia alone,” Gwen said. “I wonderhow much people produce?”

“When I visited Space Camp we learned about how the astronautsdeal with noxious fumes,” Sara said. “The average astronaut expelsabout a half liter of gas a day from bacterial break down ofundigested carbohydrates in the large intestine. Maybe we allshould be vaccinated. You both have been dieting, I bet you thinkyou’re eating a lot less carbohydrates than before. You could beour first test subjects.”“But what are carbohydrates exactly?”Emily asked looking at Gwen. “And which are undigested?

Here’s a list of what the girls had eaten so far:

• For breakfast—Cheerios with oat bran, a tall Latte with skimmilk, and a PowerBar®.

• For lunch—Coke and a salad with lettuce, cabbage, tomato,shredded carrot, green peas, kidney beans, and tuna fish.

QUESTION: Underline all foods containingcarbohydrates. Come up with a rule to help you identify foodscontaining carbohydrates. How are carbohydrates made normally(i.e., what organism makes them) Which ingredient would cause gasand Why are some foods digestible and othersaren’t?