Vitamin B12

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/vitamin-b12

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Cobalamin
2. What is the exclusive natural producers?Certain bacteria and archaea
3. What is vitamin B12 and why is it important for my body?Vitamin B12 is a tiny helper that keeps your body running smoothly and your brain super sharp.
4. How do animals get vitamin B12 if it is made only by bacteria?Animals get vitamin B12 by eating the bacteria that make it or by eating other animals that have stored it.

Cobalamin: The chemical name for Vitamin B12, characterized by its central cobalt atom.
Intrinsic Factor (IF): A glycoprotein produced by the stomach essential for Vitamin B12 absorption.
Megaloblastic Anemia: A type of anemia characterized by abnormally large red blood cells due to impaired DNA synthesis.
Pernicious Anemia: An autoimmune condition causing Vitamin B12 deficiency due to lack of intrinsic factor.