Enzymes
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Enzymes
"Like all catalysts, enzymes work by lowering the activation energy for a reaction and thus dramatically accelerating the rate of the reaction."
That's what wikipedia says about enzymes. Could somebody give me a specific example or two of things that couldn't happen without enzymes speeding up the process? I think that would make it easier for me to understand & remember.
That's what wikipedia says about enzymes. Could somebody give me a specific example or two of things that couldn't happen without enzymes speeding up the process? I think that would make it easier for me to understand & remember.

Digestion relies on enzymes.
There are carbohydrase enzymes, lipidase enzymes, and protein digesting enzymes which break down the food molecules. Without them, it would seem impossible to digest food.
Also, if I remember correctly, an enzyme is also responsible for the triggering of the mechanical digestion in the stomach of the food. "Pepsin" I believe the enzyme is called. It's an allosteric enzyme.
There are carbohydrase enzymes, lipidase enzymes, and protein digesting enzymes which break down the food molecules. Without them, it would seem impossible to digest food.
Also, if I remember correctly, an enzyme is also responsible for the triggering of the mechanical digestion in the stomach of the food. "Pepsin" I believe the enzyme is called. It's an allosteric enzyme.
well chemical digestion would be impossible, but don't forget mechanical digestion, i.e. stomach churning, chewing food, etc.
But in reality, there's no way that mechanically everything could be broken down small enough to be absorbed.
But in reality, there's no way that mechanically everything could be broken down small enough to be absorbed.
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