Question

Carbohydrates are essential for life in both plants and animals. Name the carbohydrates that are used as storage molecules in plants and animals, also name the carbohydrate which is present in wood or in the fibre of cotton cloth.

Answer 1

Carbohydrates as storage molecules in plants and animals:

$\bullet$ Carbohydrate used as storage molecule by plants is starch. It is the most important dietary source for human beings. High content of starch is found in cereals, starchy roots, tubers and some vegetables.

$\bullet$ The carbohydrate used by animals as a storage molecule is glycogen. It is present in the liver, muscles and brain. Whenever the body needs glucose, enzymes break the glycogen down to glucose.

Carbohydrate present in wood or the fibre of cotton:

The carbohydrate which is present in wood or in fibre of cotton is cellulose. It is a predominant constituent of the cell wall of plant cells.