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.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Lactose Intolerance: Fact or Fiction
Around the world, about 2/3 of adult humans are lactose intolerant. Scholars work in small groups to discuss a few statements about lactose intolerance. Then, they watch a video on the topic and readdress each statement. Whole-class...
Curated OER
Are Enzymes Specific for Their Substrates?
Students discover enzyme to substrate specificity. The experiment uses samples of glucose and lactose in combination with the enzyme lactase. Students observe the reaction between the lactose and the lactase; the lack of a reaction...
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
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.
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.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Got Lactase? The Co-Evolution of Genes and Culture
Does the human body evolve as quickly as human culture? With a stellar 15-minute video, explore the trait of lactose intolerance. Only about 1/3 of human adults seem to still have the enzyme lactase and therefore, the ability to digest...
Curated OER
Lactose Intolerance
Students are taught how enzymes enable chemical reactions to occur a body temperature and how the lack of enzymes in the body can cause problems in the break-down and absorpion of nutrients. They match up different enzymes with the...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Milk—How Sweet Is It?
Have you ever wondered why some people are lactose intolerant? Participants test simulated patients in a hands-on lab activity to find out! They learn about lactose intolerance by performing an experiment, analyzing data, and drawing...
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
Control of Prokaryotic (Bacterial) Genes
A nicely formatted set of slides that logically follow and define the structure and function of the genes in Bacteria. The repressor proteins and other gene regulators are listed and diagrams support the explanations of their function on...