noun
- An enzyme found in the stomach of mammals that curdles milk by coagulating casein; used in cheese-making.
Usage: Also called rennin; Technical/scientific term; Commonly used in food production and dairy industries
Examples
- Chymosin is essential in the production of most cheeses.
- The enzyme chymosin causes milk proteins to clump together during cheese-making.
- Dairy scientists use chymosin extracted from calf stomach lining to curdle milk.
- Modern cheese production often relies on genetically engineered chymosin rather than animal sources.
- Chymosin works by breaking down casein, a major protein in milk.