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Which polysaccharide is the main structural fiber in the external skeletons of arthropods, and a structural material in the cell walls of fungi?

a) Starch
b) Cellulose
c) Glycogen
d) Chitin

1 Answer

7 votes

Final answer:

Chitin is the structural polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of arthropods and in the cell walls of fungi.

Step-by-step explanation:

The polysaccharide that is the main structural fiber in the external skeletons of arthropods, and a structural material in the cell walls of fungi is chitin. Chitin is a complex carbohydrate that forms the tough exoskeletons of insects, crustaceans, and other arthropods. It is composed of units of N-acetylglucosamine, a modified form of glucose. Unlike starch or cellulose, which are made of glucose units, chitin includes a nitrogen-containing group attached to its glucose subunits, making it unique among the biologically important polysaccharides.

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