Section 1: IntroductionEnzymes are proteins used to accelerate biochemical reactions. Enzymes can only react with what is called a substrate. This is because the enzyme has a specific operational property, such as having a distinct shape that allows only perfect fit of a substrate. This substrate binds to the enzyme and produces a product. Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose, a milk disaccharide of galactose and glucose. Lactase is found only within the inner walls of the small intestine. Some people stop producing lactase after a certain age and the person becomes lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance occurs when a person is unable to break down milk sugar molecules, with symptoms including bloating, cramps and diarrhea. The purpose of the experiment is to test the specificity of the lactase enzyme. To test the specificity we used lactose and sucrose and checked the presence of glucose in the solution. The next procedure in our experiment is to test pH, environmental factors and their effects on lactase. We then tested lactase with lactose in contrasting environments and temperatures. The prediction made for specificity was that lactase was specific only for lactose. We also concluded that sucrose and lactose, as well as sucrose and aqueous solution, would be the highest concentration of glucose. For the second experiment we predicted that pH 7 would be optimal for lactase function. For the third experiment we predicted that 25°C with milk and lactase would contain the highest concentration of glucose, this is because they are close to the natural lactase environment in which the enzymes function.Section 2: Materials and methodsA. Specificity of the Lactase Enzyme: The materials used for this lab include......half of the paper......gives them symptoms such as diarrhea or bloating. For future experiments we can possibly try testing lactase levels with the pH ranging from 10 to 14, by doing so we can see if there is any significant difference. Such as having a higher base resulting in higher glucose concentrations. Or predict whether the one pH that works best would be the pH 10 we used. It would also be interesting to test or demonstrate whether there are enzymes that do not work as well as others or whether there may be a difference in the substrate. Section 5: References Role of enzymes in biochemical reactions. (Ohardt 2003). Retrieved November 3, 2013, from the online virtual book www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/570enzymes.htmlA. Zebboudj, personal communications from Inquiry into life (13th ed.), 16 October 2013Mader, SS (2012). Inquiry into Life (13th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill