Question

Which of the following is true regarding energy production and storage in plants and animals?

1) Plant and animal cells make starch for long-term energy storage.
2) Most of the ATP in a plant cell has been generated in the chloroplast and transported to other parts of the cell.
3) Oxidation of one gram of starch releases more energy than oxidation of fat, but since starch absorbs a lot of water, it is not as efficient as fat in energy storage.
4) Animals, but not plants, can store fats in the form of triacylglycerol (triglyceride).
5) Plant seeds often contain large amounts of fats and starch.

Answer 1

Plants store energy as starch, while animals use glycogen for short-term and fats in the form of triglycerides for long-term storage. Fats provide a more efficient storage of energy compared to starch because they contain higher energy per unit mass and don't absorb water.Hence, option 5 is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

Regarding energy production and storage in plants and animals, several key points can be highlighted. Plants generally use starch molecules for long-term energy storage, converting excess glucose produced during photosynthesis into starch for later use. This starch is commonly found in different parts of plants, including seeds, roots, and tubers. On the other hand, animals primarily store energy in the form of glycogen for short-term needs and triacylglycerol (triglycerides) for long-term energy storage, which are housed in specialized adipose tissues. Fatty acids found in fats are a major source of energy for animals and undergo a process called B-Oxidation, producing ATP which is the cell's energy currency.

Starch is less efficient than fat for energy storage because although oxidation of one gram of starch releases a considerable amount of energy, it is not as much as fat and starch also absorbs water, reducing its efficiency. Furthermore, it is true that plant seeds can contain large amounts of both fats and starch which serve as energy sources for the developing plant embryo.