Lactase

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/lactase

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 human gene locus?LCT (Lactase-Phlorizin Hydrolase), located on chromosome 2
2. What is the catalytic reaction?Hydrolysis of lactose (C12H22O11 + H2O → C6H12O6 + C6H12O6)
3. What does lactase do in my tummy?Lactase breaks down the sugar in milk called lactose into two simple sugars, glucose and galactose, so my body can use them for energy.
4. Why do some people have trouble drinking milk?If a person has low lactase, lactose stays in the stomach and moves to the colon where bacteria make gas and cause tummy pain, bloating, and diarrhea.

Glycoside Hydrolase: An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds.
Lactase Persistence: The ability to digest lactose into adulthood due to continued lactase production.
Enterocytes: The primary cell type lining the small intestine, responsible for nutrient absorption.
SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism): A variation in a single nucleotide that occurs at a specific position in the genome.