Biology
Lactose is the natural sugar found in milk. An enzyme in the small intestine, lactase, is responsible for the digestion of lactose. Lactase "breaks the lactose down into two simpler forms of sugar, which can then be absorbed into the bloodstream." For most people, this is a straightforward process but some people have insufficient lactase, and indigestion occurs as a result of the body's inability to break down the lactose (WebMD, 2014).
Proteins are digested in both the stomach and the small intestine. The stomach secretes hydrochloric acid and pepsinogen, and the two interact to produce pepsin. The pepsin enzyme then breaks down the protein via a process known as hydrolysis. This is where a water molecule is inserted between two amino acids, causing their bonds to break.
The hydrochloric acid breaks down the bonds between proteins, and the proteins are disintegrated into amino acids. Protein digestion continues in the small intestine, where trypsin joins the pepsin in further breaking down the proteins into amino acids. Amino acids are absorbed in the stomach and jejunum, which is the middle part of the small intestine.
Meanwhile in the pancreas, protease enzymes are secreted that assist in fat digestion. These...
Lactose if one of the major components of milk, and plays a crucial role in human development. This paper will examine the structure, function, physical properties, chemical properties, reactions, and everyday uses of lactose. In addition, a discussion of the common issue of lactose intolerance in humans is included. A natural sugar found in milk, lactose is likely one of the most commonly identifiable of all milk ingredients (except perhaps calcium).
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