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Carbohydrates are energy molecules found in sugars, starches, and cellulose. They serve as building blocks and provide quick energy, energy storage, and structural support. This text explains the synthesis of carbohydrates, the importance of sugars, and the function of big carbohydrates like starch, glycogen, cellulose, and chitin. It also explores the digestion of starch versus cellulose and the role of helpful bacteria in breaking down cellulose-rich meals.
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CH2OH O H H H OH H OH HO H OH Carbohydrates: Energy molecules
sugar sugar sugar sugar sugar sugar sugar sugar Carbohydrates • Building block molecules = sugars sugar - sugar - sugar - sugar - sugar
sucrose Carbohydrates • Function: • quick energy • energy storage • structure • Example • sugars • starches • cellulose (cell wall) glucoseC6H12O6 starch
CH2OH O H H H OH H OH HO H OH glucose sucrose fructose C6H12O6 maltose Sugars = building blocks -ose • Names for sugars usually end in • glucose • fructose • sucrose • maltose
Building carbohydrates • Synthesis 2 sugars = disaccharide monosaccharides | glucose | glucose | maltose
Building carbohydrates • Synthesis 2 sugars = disaccharide monosaccharides | sucrose (table sugar) | glucose | fructose
BIG carbohydrates • Starch • energy storage in plants • potatoes • Glycogen • energy storage in animals • in liver & muscles • Cellulose • structure in plants • cell walls • Chitin • structure in arthropods & fungi • exoskeleton
Building BIG carbohydrates polysaccharide glucose + glucose + glucose… = starch (plant) energystorage glycogen (animal)
enzyme enzyme Digesting starch vs. cellulose starcheasy todigest cellulosehard todigest
Cellulose • Cell walls in plants • herbivores can digest cellulose • most carnivores cannot digest cellulose • that’s why they eat meat to get their energy & nutrients • cellulose = roughage
Cow can digest cellulose well; no need to eat other sugars Gorilla can’t digest cellulose well; must add another sugar source, like fruit to diet
Helpful bacteria • How can cows digest cellulose? • bacteria live in their stomachs & help digest cellulose-rich (grass) meals