Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Making of the Fittest: Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture
Got milk? Only two cultures have had it long enough to develop the tolerance of lactose as an adult. Learn how the responsible genes evolved along with the cultures that have been consuming milk. This rich film is supplied with a few...
Curated OER
Enzymes Help Us Digest Food ~ Introduction to Sugars and Enzymes
After an explanatory introduction to sugars and enzyme activity, biochemists discover whether lactase is needed to digest lactose, sucrose, and milk as a whole. High school science lab skills are required for these investigations.
Curated OER
Lactose & Lactase
Students examine the characteristics of lactose and lactase. In this enzyme lesson plan students study the lactose in milk and its rate of dissolution.
Curated OER
Milk Makes Me Sick
High schoolers experiment with lactase to find out how milk sugar is broken down in the body. In this enzyme lesson, students use glucose strips to investigate the breakdown of lactose into glucose and galactose for milk digestion in the...
Curated OER
Enzyme Action
Students work with models of substrates and of enzymes and test the digestion of lactose with lactase. They determine if digestion of lactose has or has not occurred.