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Sleep Clears β-amyloid from the Brain

Graph of beta amyloid in awake, asleep, and anesthsized state
Topic
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Nervous & Endocrine Systems
  • Science Practices
  • Graph Interpretation
Resource Type
  • Activities
  • Data Points
Level
High School — AP/IBCollege
Favorited By
11 Users
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Description

This activity analyzes a published scientific figure from a study that investigated the biological importance of sleep. In this study, scientists tested whether sleep plays a role in removing harmful substances from the brain.

The study focused on a protein called β-amyloid (also known as amyloid beta or Aβ), a metabolic waste product that is linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The scientists used mice as model organisms to determine whether the rate of Aβ removal is higher during sleep. The figure shows the different rates at which Aβ was cleared from the brains of mice that were awake, sleeping, or anesthetized with the anesthetic ketamine/xylazine (KX).

The “Educator Materials” document includes a captioned figure, background information, graph interpretation, and discussion questions. The “Student Handout” includes a captioned figure and background information.

 

 

Student Learning Targets
  • Analyze and interpret data from a scientific figure. 
  • Explain how sleep may help preserve brain function by clearing out metabolic waste products.
     
Details
Estimated Time
Within one 50-minute class period.
Key Terms

Alzheimer’s disease, bar graph, error bar, metabolite, model organism, mouse, p value

Primary Literature

Xie, Lulu, Hongyi Kang, Qiwu Xu, Michael J. Chen, Yonghong Liao, Meenakshisundaram Thiyagarajan, John O’Donnell, et al. “Sleep Drives Metabolite Clearance from the Adult Brain.” Science 342, 6156 (2013): 373–377. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1241224.

To access this article, set up a free AAAS account. An annotated version of the article is also available from Science in the Classroom.

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level

The documents for this resource meet accessibility standards in accordance with the final rule for Section 508 of the National Rehabilitation Act.
Version History
Date Published 05.22.17
Date Updated 05.22.17
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1-2; SEP2, SEP4, SEP5

AP Biology (2019)

ENE-3.D; SP1, SP4

IB Biology (2016)

A.2, B.4

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9-12.7
Math.S-ID.3, Math.S-IC.1; MP2, MP5

Vision and Change (2009)

CC2; DP2, DP3

Materials
Educator Materials (PDF) 1 MB
Student Handout (PDF) 982 KB
Educator Materials - Español (PDF) 295 KB
Student Handout - Español (PDF) 247 KB

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