Abstract: Cellulose is the most common natural (plant) polymer while its animal-kingdom close relative chitin comes in second. It is estimated that there are some 10 billion tons of chitin in the world (d’Ayala et al., 2008). Chitin may be described as cellulose with one hydroxyl group on each monomer replaced with an acetyl amine group. Chitin-producing organisms like protozoa, fungi, arthropods, and nematodes are often pathogens in other species. Despite the absence of endogenous chitin, mammals express chitinases (E.C 3.2.2.14) with enzymatic activity.