Final answer:
The statement regarding the formation of chitin from modified glucose monomers and its role as the basis for exoskeletons is true. Chitin, which contains nitrogen, is comprised of the repeating units of N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosamine and plays a crucial structural role in both arthropods and fungi.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that glucose can be modified by the addition of an amine group to form a monomer chain known as chitin, which is the basis for exoskeletons, is True. Chitin is a nitrogen-containing polysaccharide consisting of repeating units of N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosamine, which indeed is a modified form of glucose. Naturally, this biopolymer serves as a structural component not only in the exoskeleton of arthropods, such as insects and crustaceans, but also in the cell walls of fungi. The glucose monomers in chitin are linked by a ß(1→4) glycosidic linkage, forming a long-chain structural polysaccharide that provides rigidity and protection.
Chitin is similar to other structural carbohydrates like cellulose, with chains of hundreds or thousands of monomers, but what differentiates it is the presence of nitrogen within its structure. This structural complexity of chitin provides crucial support for the organisms that utilize it. Insects, for instance, rely on their chitin-based exoskeletons for protection against environmental hazards and to maintain structural integrity.