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Multiple Choice
Which polysaccharide serves as the primary storage form of glucose in animals?
A
Chitin
B
Starch
C
Cellulose
D
Glycogen
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides (simple sugars) linked together by glycosidic bonds. They serve various functions, such as energy storage and structural support in organisms.
Step 2: Review the role of glycogen in animals. Glycogen is a highly branched polysaccharide composed of glucose units. It serves as the primary storage form of glucose in animals, particularly in the liver and muscle cells.
Step 3: Compare glycogen with other polysaccharides listed in the options. Chitin is a structural polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of arthropods and fungi. Starch is a storage polysaccharide found in plants. Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide found in plant cell walls.
Step 4: Recognize that glycogen is unique to animals and is specifically adapted for rapid mobilization of glucose when energy is needed. Its highly branched structure allows enzymes to quickly break it down into glucose.
Step 5: Conclude that glycogen is the correct answer because it is the primary storage form of glucose in animals, unlike chitin, starch, or cellulose, which serve different functions in other organisms.