Emphasis is on students constructing explanations for how sugar molecules are formed through photosynthesis and the components of the reaction (i.e., carbon, hydrogen, oxygen)

Emphasis is on students constructing explanations for how sugar molecules are formed through photosynthesis and the components of the reaction (i.e., carbon, hydrogen, oxygen). This hydrocarbon backbone is used to make amino acids and other carbon-based molecules that can be assembled (anabolism) into larger molecules (such as proteins or DNA).