Find an example of benefit or harm to life that hinges on an enzyme. For example, some diseases are the result of an underproduction or overproduction of a vital enzyme. Also, some substances that are considered poisons or pollutants do their harm by interfering with the function of a vital enzyme. Identify the enzyme, the important role it plays, and how its action can be disrupted.

There are a number of diseases that can develop from not having enough of a particular enzyme in the body. Enzymes are substances that are needed by the body to speed up certain chemical reactions. These reactions fuel the bodys everyday needs such as digesting food, creating energy to walk and run, and storing molecules in tissues and organs. When levels of certain enzymes are low or absent (also...