Final answer:
Plants create glucose and starch as a way to store energy. Glucose is a simple sugar for immediate use, while starch serves as a storage form of glucose. Humans and animals can obtain energy from starch by breaking it down into smaller molecules, such as glucose.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plants create glucose and starch as a way to store energy. Glucose is a simple sugar that can be quickly broken down to release energy for immediate use. However, plants need a more stable form of energy for long-term storage. Starch, which is made up of glucose molecules linked together, serves as a storage form of glucose.
Plants store excess glucose as starch in different plant parts, such as roots and seeds. The starch in seeds provides nourishment for the embryo during germination. Humans and animals can also use starch as a source of food. When humans consume starch, enzymes like amylase break it down into smaller molecules, such as glucose, which can be absorbed by cells for energy.