The function of this enzyme is pretty obvious: to break down lactose (sugar). (Pritchard, 2011) Lactose can not be broken down in the human body because it's too complex. What lactase does is breaks it down into more simple sugars like Glucose and Galactose (monosaccharides), this way the human body can function correctly and still obtain energy from the lactose. Without the lactase enzyme, the lactose just sits in the body because there is no way for it to be broken down. Hence, that is why some people who are lactose intolerant must take some type of lactase in (in the form of a pill) if they want to properly digest the lactose. The production of lactase in newborns is when it is known to be the highest, but as the babies start getting older, the production of lactase has a rapid drop. It is also known that Northern Europeans have exceptionally high levels of lactase as an adult due to genetics and lactase being found as a constant product in Turkey.