Location of clip:

DVD: Chapter 12 - 13

Play Flickclip Here (Quicktime)

Summary of clip: Kate is chasing her unfaithful fiance while Luc is attempting to locate an expensive necklace that he hid in Kate's bag. On the train ride, Kate indulges in a large amount of French cheese. Minutes later, she is plagued by gas and eventually needs a quick trip to the restroom.

Connection of flickclip to the concept: Lactose intolerance is a condition in which the intestines no longer produce the enzyme lactase making it so that the digestive tract cannot breakdown lactose which is present in most dairy foods. The inability to break down the lactose makes it so that it cannot absorb into the bloodstream and remains in the gut. The gut bacteria starts metabolizing the lactose and produces gas by fermentation. The presence of the lactose in the colon raises the osmotic pressure, causing the reabsorption of water to occur and therefore, a laxative effect.

1. Suggested questions for students when viewing the clip:

a. What happened to Kate in this scene?

b. Where does digestion occur? What is needed for proper digestion?

c. What would happen without the needed enzymes?

 

2. Have the students investigate into the activity of enzymes by performing experiments to determine how to slow down or speed up the work of enzymes. The lesson plan for this activity can be found at: http://pals.sri.com/tasks/9-12/Catalase/.

3. This clip can introduce a discussion of respiration, specifically an anaerobic respiration or fermentation. The class can discuss how respiration without oxygen occurs. The class can then split into groups and make root beer (http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/1229.html) or make sauerkraut (http://wildfermentation.com/resources.php?page=sauerkraut) after having discussed how these processes occur. This can then be related to the fermentation occurring in the gut, producing the uncomfortable gas distension.