Enzyme Importance
Secondary | Health | Views: 920
- You can see how important enzymes are in the digestion process as in nearly all of the stages more enzymes are added.
- There are many different types of enzymes and each of the enzymes helps to break down different types of food.
- Pineapple contains an enzyme called Bromelain which catalyses the digestion of Gelatine.
This practical helps to show us how enzymes break down food.
You will Need:
- Two bowls of jelly
- Fresh pineapple ring
- Tinned pineapple ring
What to Do:
- Place the freshly cut pineapple ring on the surface of one bowl of jelly.
- Place the tinned pineapple ring on the surface of the other bowl of jelly.
- Leave the bowls of jelly alone for 20 minutes.
Observations:
- In the bowl with the freshly cut pineapple, the Bromelain enzyme catalysed the breakdown of the Gelatine causing the ring to sink into the jelly.
- The bowl with the tinned pineapple should have the ring remaining on the surface of the jelly.
- This is because during the tinning process the enzymes in the tinned pineapple are destroyed.
- So, you can see that without enzymes our body cannot breakdown food very well and therefore, we need enzymes so we can absorb all the nutrients needed out of food.
« Back
