Lab No. 6: Enzyme Specificity Lab Report on LactaseIntroductionEnzymes are biomolecules that catalyze or assist chemical reactions. (“About Enzymes – Disabled World,” n.d.,) Without enzymes it would be impossible for an organism to carry out chemical reactions. Enzymes are proteins that carry a chemical reaction for a specific substance or nutrient. For example, digestive enzymes help food be broken down so it can be absorbed. Enzymes can start the reaction or speed it up. Substrates are the chemicals that are transformed by enzymes. (Gunsch & Foster, 2014) Reagents are the chemicals in the absence of enzymes. The metabolic pathways that occur in a cell are determined by a set of enzymes that are selective for their substrates and catalyze only a few reactions among many possibilities. Lactase is an enzyme present in the digestive system. It is essential for the complete digestion of sugar in whole milk and dairy products. Lactase specifically breaks down lactose, a complex sugar. Lactase cannot be absorbed by the body unless it is broken down by lactase into glucose and galactose. According to webMD, "Without lactase in the gut, a person who consumes dairy products may experience symptoms of lactose intolerance... Abdominal cramps, flatulence (gas), and diarrhea may occur when a lactose-intolerant person consumes dairy products- dairy products". ("Oral Lactase Enzyme: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings, and Dosage - WebMD", n.d.) Lactase use is not recommended in CHILDREN under the age of 4. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed. (Kluwer, 2014) The purpose of this experiment was to discover the specificity of the lactase enzyme with respect to a specific...... half of the article......ed April 3, 2014, from http://www. Wisegeek.org/what-are-enzymes.htmKluwer, W. (2014, March 1). Lactase Capsules: Indications, Side Effects, Warnings - Drugs.com. Retrieved April 2, 2014, from http://www.drugs.com/cdi/lactase.htmlOral Lactase Enzyme: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings, and Dosage - WebMD. (2014, March 1). WebMD. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-5506-Lactase+Enzyme+Oral.aspx?drugid=5506&drugname=Lactase+Enzyme+OralMader, SS (2010). Metabolism: energy and enzymes. In K. G. Lyle-Ippolito, & A. T. Storfer (Eds.), Inquiry into life (13th ed., pp. 105-107). Princeton, NJ: McGraw Hill.IN TEXT CITATION("Enzyme Information - Disabled World", n.d.,)(Gunsch & Foster, 2014)(Kluwer, 2014)("Oral Lactase Enzyme: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosage - WebMD", nd)(Mader, 2010, p. xx)