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Questions and Answers
What are polysaccharides?
What are polysaccharides?
Polysaccharides are polymers of monosaccharides linked together by dehydration reactions; they are long chains of sugar units that may function as storage molecules or as structural compounds.
What is starch?
What is starch?
Starch is a storage polysaccharide in plants, consists entirely of glucose monomers, and they coil into a helical shape.
What do plant cells and animal cells need for energy?
What do plant cells and animal cells need for energy?
Sugar
What provides humans and most other animals a source of glucose?
What provides humans and most other animals a source of glucose?
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What are the major sources of starch in the human diet?
What are the major sources of starch in the human diet?
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What is glycogen?
What is glycogen?
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Where is most of the human glycogen stored?
Where is most of the human glycogen stored?
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What is cellulose?
What is cellulose?
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Compare and contrast starch and cellulose, two plant polysaccharides.
Compare and contrast starch and cellulose, two plant polysaccharides.
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Study Notes
Polysaccharides Overview
- Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides linked by dehydration reactions, serving as storage or structural compounds.
Starch
- Starch is the primary storage polysaccharide in plants composed exclusively of glucose monomers with a helical structure.
Energy Sources
- Both plant and animal cells require sugar for energy.
Glucose Source for Animals
- Animals, including humans, possess enzymes that hydrolyze plant starch, converting it to glucose.
Dietary Sources of Starch
- Major sources of starch in the human diet include potatoes, wheat, corn, and rice.
Glycogen
- Glycogen is a polysaccharide that stores excess sugar in animals, formed from glucose monomers.
Glycogen Storage in Humans
- In humans, glycogen is predominantly stored in the liver and muscle cells.
Cellulose
- Cellulose is a glucose polymer and the most abundant organic compound on Earth, forming fibrils in plant cell walls through hydrogen bonding.
Starch vs. Cellulose
- Both starch and cellulose are glucose polymers but differ in molecular bonds. Starch serves primarily as a sugar storage medium, while cellulose provides structural support in cell walls.
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Description
Test your knowledge on polysaccharides with these flashcards. Learn definitions and characteristics of important polysaccharides like starch and their roles in plants. Perfect for biology students and anyone interested in biochemistry.
