lactase
pronunciation
How to pronounce lactase in British English:
UK ['lækteɪs]
How to pronounce lactase in American English:
US ['lækteɪs]
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- Noun:
- any of a group of enzymes (trade name Lactaid) that hydrolyze lactose to glucose and galactose
Word Origin
Example
- 1. The milk sugar lactose is broken down by the enzyme lactase .
- 2. A competing hypothesis argues that ancient europeans domesticated milk-bearing livestock because lactase persistence was already quite common in certain populations .
- 3. In most cases mammals stop producing lactase after weaning but a nucleotide switch in their dna can keep lactase flowing into adulthood a trait called lactase persistence .
- 4. Switching from milk formula to soy formula is helpful for severe diarrhea ( from acquired lactase deficiency ) and for vegetarianism .
- 5. Lactase persistence is far from a universal condition ( half of modern humans cannot digest lactose ) and there are at least two competing theories as to how it became the norm for european populations .