Bacteria, insects, and plants use carbohydrates to build structures. Which of the following is TRUE of structural carbohydrates?
A) Different types of pentose monomers form the basis of all carbohydrate-based structures.
B) Structural carbohydrates show a high degree of branching.
C) All structural carbohydrates are made from the same monomer, α-glucose.
D) Structural carbohydrates are long strands, which are chemically linked into a network.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Structural carbohydrates, such as cellulose found in plants and chitin found in insects, are long strands of glucose monomers that are chemically linked into a network. Unlike starch and glycogen, which are used for energy storage, structural carbohydrates do not have a high degree of branching. Additionally, while pentose monomers may be present in certain structural carbohydrates, they are not the basis of all carbohydrate-based structures.

Bacteria, Insects, and Plants Use Carbohydrates to Build Structures