Lactose is a disaccharide made from which two sugars?

Prepare for the Penn Foster Veterinary Technician Exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, with detailed hints and explanations for each question. Excel in your exam preparation!

Lactose is indeed a disaccharide composed of two specific monosaccharides: glucose and galactose. This sugar is commonly found in milk and dairy products, where it plays a vital role as a nutrient source.

When lactose is consumed, it is broken down in the body by the enzyme lactase into its constituent sugars, glucose and galactose, which can then be absorbed into the bloodstream to be utilized for energy. Understanding the composition of lactose is important for recognizing why some individuals may experience lactose intolerance, which occurs when they do not produce enough lactase to adequately digest lactose.

The other options presented consist of different combinations of sugars that do not accurately describe the structure of lactose. For instance, glucose and fructose form sucrose, while glucose and sucrose do not combine to create lactose. The combination of galactose and fructose does not relate to lactose at all, further solidifying that the correct answer is the pairing of glucose and galactose.

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