Final answer:
The function of starch, a complex carbohydrate, is as an energy storage form in plants, consisting of glucose polymers called amylose and amylopectin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of the complex carbohydrate starch is to act as a storage form of energy in plants. Starch is made up of two types of polymers: amylose, which is linear, and amylopectin, which is branched. Both of these are composed of glucose units. While animals use glycogen for energy storage, plants synthesize glucose through photosynthesis and store excess glucose as starch in various plant parts, such as roots and seeds. When consumed by animals, starch is broken down during digestion to its component sugars, such as glucose, which can then be absorbed by the cells for energy.
The primary function of the complex carbohydrate starch is to serve as a storage form of energy in plants. Starch is composed of two types of polymers: amylose, which has a linear structure, and amylopectin, which is branched. Both of these polymers consist of glucose units linked together. Plants utilize photosynthesis to synthesize glucose and store the excess energy in the form of starch in various plant parts, including roots and seeds.
While animals employ glycogen for energy storage, plants rely on starch. When animals consume plant-based foods containing starch, the digestive process breaks down starch into its component sugars, such as glucose. This breakdown enables the absorption of glucose by cells, providing a readily available energy source. Understanding the role of starch in plant energy storage and its conversion to usable energy in animals highlights the interconnectedness of energy dynamics in the natural world.