Tabletop Lab – Toothpickase and Lactase instructions:

Lactose intolerance is a condition that affects many adults. Humans and other mammals are born with the ability to make the enzyme lactase, which is necessary to digest lactose, the primary sugar in milk. In most mammals, the gene that produces the lactase enzyme is turned off after infancy. In humans, however, especially humans of European ancestry, the gene may remain active throughout life. This appears to be caused by a harmless recessive mutation affecting the mechanism that would normally shut the gene off. Adults of non-European ancestry are far more likely to develop lactose intolerance than adults of European descent. Fortunately for individuals who are lactose intolerant, there are over the counter enzyme tablets that can enable them to eat dairy products with gusto. In this Lab, you will perform an experiment using lactase tablets to explore enzyme function.

You will also be taking on the role of an enzyme in a Lab that simulates different conditions that might affect enzyme function in a cell. You will be testing the effects of a variety of conditions on “Toothpickase”, a fictional enzyme that breaks down toothpicks.

Tabletop Lab – Toothpickase and Lactase (Google Doc)

It is recommended that you print out the above Lab (linked) and record your data and answer the analysis questions by hand as you complete the Lab. This Lab is not to be turned in or graded. You will need to obtain the following supplies before you begin the Lab: