Cellulose and starch are composed of the same monomers but have structural and functional differences. Which of the following is the characteristic that accounts for those differences?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cellulose and starch are both composed of glucose monomers, but they differ in the type of glycosidic linkage between these monomers. Cellulose has beta 1-4 glycosidic linkages, which makes it a linear, fibrous molecule that forms a strong, structural component of plant cell walls. In contrast, starch has alpha 1-4 glycosidic linkages, which results in a branched structure that allows for easy storage and access to energy in plant cells.

Cellulose and Starch Are Composed of the Same Monomers but Have