galactose

/gə'læktous/

Thân thiện

A scientist adds galactose to a test tube in the laboratory.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A simple sugar found in lactose: Galactose is a monosaccharide (a simple sugar) that is a component of the disaccharide lactose, which is found in milk.

Usage

• Galactose is a specific type of sugar. It is often discussed in the context of biochemistry, nutrition, and food science.
• It is commonly mentioned alongside glucose, as they combine to form lactose.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Galactose is less sweet than glucose.
  • Lactose is broken down into glucose and galactose during digestion.
  • Some individuals have a genetic condition called galactosemia, where they cannot metabolize galactose.

Advanced Usage

• "Galactose metabolism": Refers to the biochemical pathways the body uses to process and utilize galactose.
  • Disorders in galactose metabolism can lead to serious health issues.

Variants and Related Words

• Galactosemia (n): A rare genetic metabolic disorder affecting the body's ability to process galactose.
• Galactoside (n): A glycoside derived from galactose.

Synonyms

• Monosaccharide: A simple sugar that cannot be hydrolyzed to give a simpler sugar; galactose is one type.
• Hexose: A monosaccharide with six carbon atoms; both glucose and galactose are hexoses.

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Galactose intolerance: Difficulty digesting galactose, often related to broader issues with lactose.
• D-galactose: The specific, naturally occurring form (stereoisomer) of galactose.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a simple sugar found in lactose

Từ đồng nghĩa

• brain sugar