351,012 views
22 votes
22 votes
27. Compare and Contrast Describe the structures and

functions of starch and cellulose. How are the molecules
similar? How are they different?

User Pblack
by
2.9k points

1 Answer

18 votes
18 votes

Answer:

Starch is the storage carbohydrate found in plants. Cellulose is a structural component of the cell wall in plants. Glycogen is a storage carbohydrate and is the source of energy for fungi and animals.

Cellulose and starch are both common polymers of glucose. Structurally, they are very similar, Starch is found as alpha glucose and has 1,4 glycosidic bonds in amylose and 1,6 glycosidic bonds in amylopectin, cellulose is found as beta glucose and has 1,4 glycosidic bonds between monomers, glycogen is used as alpha glucose and has 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds between monomers.

The difference is how they are oriented. Starch is oriented with every glucose molecule pointing in the same direction,

Step-by-step explanation:

sorry if its long, but hope it helps!

User Melih Sevim
by
2.7k points