Question

Predict how milk digestion is affected in individuals that lack functional copies of the gene encoring lactase. Justify your response.

Answer 1

Lactase is an enzyme produced in small interstine and due to lack of functional copie of the lactase the enzyme defficiency happence in the individual. The individual with this lactose intolerence cannot digest the lactose sugar or absorb it. The milk and milk based product as they have this lactose sugar are undigestable for them. They may show simptoms like diarrhea, nausea, vomitings and abdominal cramps. As the colon bacteria reacts on undigestable lactose and produces these symptoms.