DNALC LIVE

Lactose Intolerance

Date: 5/27/2020
Time: 3:00 PM
Duration: 30 minutes
Presenter(s): Brittany Johnson, DNA Learning Center
Audience: Grades 5+
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Activity description:

Enzymes speed up chemical reactions, including the digestion of food. Lactase is an intestinal enzyme responsible for the digestion of the sugar lactose in milk. The production of lactase is an important part of the interesting evolutionary story of why some humans are lactose intolerant, and others are not. Join DNALC instructor Brittany Johnson to learn how human genetics and lifestyle can affect a trait like lactose tolerance, and how enzymes produced in labs are used in industry to prepare lactose-free milk.

In this DNALC Live session, you will:
• Discuss the genetics and biochemistry of lactose intolerance;
• Explore the relationship between enzymes and substrates;
• Observe how enzymes can be used to remove lactose from milk - like Lactaid®!