A milk protein-digesting enzyme found in babies but not adults?

A milk protein-digesting enzyme found in babies but not adults?

• A. Rennin
• B. Amylase
• C. Protease
• D. Lipase

Answer: (A)

In infancy, the stomach produces a specialized enzyme that helps milk digestion by coagulating milk protein (casein), forming a curd that slows gastric emptying and makes protein digestion more efficient. This enzyme is rennin (also called chymosin). It is characteristic of babies and is largely absent in adults, which is why it’s the best answer for “a milk protein-digesting enzyme found in babies but not adults.” Amylase breaks down starch, not milk protein. Lipase digests fats. A general protease digests proteins but is not unique to infancy and is active in adults as well. In adults, milk digestion relies more on pepsin and pancreatic proteases rather than rennin.

In infancy, the stomach produces a specialized enzyme that helps milk digestion by coagulating milk protein (casein), forming a curd that slows gastric emptying and makes protein digestion more efficient. This enzyme is rennin (also called chymosin). It is characteristic of babies and is largely absent in adults, which is why it’s the best answer for “a milk protein-digesting enzyme found in babies but not adults.”

Amylase breaks down starch, not milk protein. Lipase digests fats. A general protease digests proteins but is not unique to infancy and is active in adults as well. In adults, milk digestion relies more on pepsin and pancreatic proteases rather than rennin.