Video Transcript
The given graph represents the
effect of temperature on the rate of one of the human digestive enzymes. Which branch of science along with
chemistry can be most closely related to the study of digestive enzymes and enzyme
reaction rates at different temperatures? (A) Physics, (B) biology, (C)
pharmacy, (D) agriculture, (E) metallurgy.
Chemistry is the study of matter
and what it consists of, its properties, its uses, how it changes and reacts with
other substances, and the conditions under which those changes occur. As most everything is made up of
matter and chemical reactions occur all around, it should be no surprise that
chemistry is involved in many other fields of study.
To answer this question, we need to
know which other branch of science along with chemistry is most closely related to
the study of human digestive enzymes and enzyme reaction rates. Let’s take a closer look at each of
the answer choices provided.
Physics is the study of matter and
energy and their behavior over space and time. Physics can help us understand the
forces that act upon objects, how objects big and small move and interact with one
another, how electric current can power a light bulb, how the light from the
lightbulb travels, as well as numerous other concepts involving matter and
energy. While physics is an important
science, it is not closely related to the study of digestive enzymes. So we can eliminate answer choice
(A).
Biology is the study of life and
the processes and chemical reactions that give rise to and sustain life. Biology can help us understand the
life cycle of plants and animals, how cells grow and divide, and the function of
molecules in the body such as DNA, proteins, lipids, and enzymes. So biology can help us to
understand human digestive enzymes. But to be sure that this is the
correct answer, let’s take a look at the three remaining answer choices.
Pharmacy or pharmacology is the
study of the interactions between medicines and living organisms. Pharmacology can help us understand
how to develop new medications, how medicines interact with the body, and how
different medications interact with one another. While this branch of science might
study the effect medicines have on digestive enzymes, the question does not mention
medicine or pharmaceuticals. So we can rule out answer choice
(C).
Agriculture is the science of
growing and cultivating crops and livestock that provide food, water, wool, and
other resources. This science has very little to do
with the processes inside the human body, so we can eliminate answer choice (D).
Metallurgy is the study of the
properties of metals along with their production and purification. This science is not related to
living organisms, so we can eliminate answer choice (E).
In conclusion, the branch of
science along with chemistry that can be most closely related to the study of
digestive enzymes is answer choice (B) biology.
