How do cattle digest complex plant polysaccharides like cellulose?
A)They have specialized mammalian enzymes to degrade the bonds of cellulose.
B)Bacterial populations in one of the four compartments of their stomachs are able to break the bonds between adjacent glucose units of cellulose.
C)Mechanical forces of cud-chewing break the cell walls of plant fibers, enabling the cattle to extract the digestible contents of the cells.
D)Acids produced in the stomach degrade cellulose.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cattle have a specialized digestive system known as a rumen, which contains various types of bacteria that are able to break down complex plant polysaccharides like cellulose. These bacteria produce cellulase enzymes that can break the bonds between adjacent glucose units of cellulose, allowing for the digestion of this complex carbohydrate. The other options (A, C, D) are incorrect as they do not accurately reflect the mechanism by which cattle are able to digest cellulose.

How Do Cattle Digest Complex Plant Polysaccharides Like Cellulose