Lactose Digestion in Infants

This animation shows how human infants can digest milk using the enzyme lactase.

Milk is rich in the sugar lactose, which cannot be directly absorbed in the small intestine. To digest lactose, infant mammals produce the enzyme lactase. The animation illustrates how lactase breaks down lactose into two simple sugars, glucose and galactose, that can be absorbed more easily.

Depending on students’ background, it may be helpful to pause the animation at various points to discuss different molecules.