The digestion of food involves the body’s use of enzymes to assist in breaking down organic compounds. The following chart illustrates the amount of time necessary for protein digestion in varying conditions.
Digestion Rates or Protein
Reaction Seconds
Protein only 60
Protein + Acid 30
Protein + Acid + Enzyme 10
This chart provides evidence that enzymes
(1 point)
Responses
speed up chemical reactions
speed up chemical reactions
maintain a specific pH
maintain a specific pH
dissolve in water
dissolve in water
slow down chemical reactions
speed up chemical reactions
In 1931, a chemist named Arthur Fox was pouring some powdered PTC (phenylthiocarbamide) into a bottle when some of the powder accidentally blew into the air. A colleague standing nearby complained that the dust tasted bitter. Fox tasted nothing at all. Curious how they could be tasting the chemical differently, they tasted it again. The results were the same. Fox had his friends and family try the chemical then describe how it tasted. Some people tasted nothing. Some found it intensely bitter, and still others thought it tasted only slightly bitter (from The University of Utah Genetic Science Learning Center, 2013). It is estimated that 70% of the population can taste PTC and 30% cannot. We also know that the ability to taste PTC is passed from parent to child.
Which of the following molecules is responsible for the fact that parents who can taste PTC will most often have children who can taste PTC?
(1 point)
Responses
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic Acids
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Lipids
Proteins
Proteins
The correct answer is: speed up chemical reactions.
Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in the body. In the chart provided, we can see that the digestion time for protein decreases as more enzymes are present. This indicates that enzymes play a crucial role in breaking down proteins, resulting in faster digestion. Therefore, the chart provides evidence that enzymes speed up chemical reactions in the process of food digestion.
The chart provided shows the different digestion rates for protein under varying conditions. By comparing the digestion rates, we can make inferences about the role of enzymes in the digestion process.
In the first scenario, where protein is the only component, it takes 60 seconds for digestion to occur. In the second scenario, where acid is added to the protein, the digestion time decreases to 30 seconds. Finally, in the third scenario, where both acid and enzymes are present, the digestion time further decreases to 10 seconds.
From this information, we can conclude that enzymes play a crucial role in speeding up the digestion process. When enzymes are combined with protein and acid, the digestion time decreases significantly compared to when proteins are exposed to acid alone or no additional components at all.
Therefore, the correct answer is: enzymes speed up chemical reactions.