Here's a breakdown:
* Enzymes are biological catalysts, meaning they speed up chemical reactions within living organisms without being consumed in the process.
* The "-ase" suffix helps to identify a protein or molecule as an enzyme.
Examples:
* Lactase: An enzyme that breaks down lactose (milk sugar).
* Amylase: An enzyme that breaks down starch.
* DNA polymerase: An enzyme involved in replicating DNA.
Note: While the "-ase" suffix is a strong indicator of an enzyme, there are exceptions. Some enzymes might not end in "-ase", and some words ending in "-ase" might not refer to enzymes.