Tag: Mammalian biology

Lactose, the primary carbohydrate found in milk, is a disaccharide made of one glucose molecule and one galactose molecule. So, where does glucose come from in milk? The simple sugars needed to build this lactose are primarily derived from glucose taken directly from the bloodstream by the mammary gland.

The majority of animal species on Earth can synthesize their own vitamin C internally, but humans are a notable exception, along with a few other species. The answer to "is there vitamin C in animals?" is a complex story of evolution, lost genes, and dietary adaptation that varies widely across the animal kingdom.

Milk contains a unique sugar known as lactose, which is not found anywhere else in nature. This specific carbohydrate is created exclusively within the mammary glands of mammals during a complex process known as lactation. Understanding where milk gets its sugar from reveals a remarkable biological mechanism essential for providing offspring with energy.