Which term describes lactase

Study guides. Q: Which term best describes lactase Write your answer Related questions. What term best describes the movement of the continents? What is the best term that describes the inner aspect of the ankle? Which term best describes bacteria? What term best describes a group of cells? Which term best describes greek religion? Which science term best describes air? What term best describes the cells of fungi? What is another term for lactose intolerance? What term best describes an aspirin?

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The reaction that takes place when you digest lactose involves splitting lactose into its two components, glucose and galactose. Glucose and galactose are bonded together in the lactose molecule, and lactase assists in the process of separating them through a mechanism called hydrolysis, which means "splitting with water.

Mary Campbell and Shawn Farrell in their book "Biochemistry. Technically, lactase isn't a required reactant in the hydrolysis reaction of lactose. That is to say, under the right conditions, lactose breaks down in water even if there isn't lactase present.

However, because this reaction takes place so slowly under ordinary circumstances, lactase is critical to the digestion of lactose in the human body -- only a very tiny percentage of ingested lactose would digest and be absorbed by the time it reached your large intestine if you didn't have lactase present to speed the reaction. Nutrition Nutrition Basics Vitamins and Supplements.

Kirstin Hendrickson. Kirstin Hendrickson is a writer, teacher, coach, athlete and author of the textbook "Chemistry In The World. She has a Bachelor of Science in zoology, a Bachelor of Science in psychology, a Master of Science in chemistry and a doctoral degree in bioorganic chemistry.

Lactase breaks up lactose so you can absorb it. Video of the Day.