Starch Structure and Properties

This section focuses on starch as a key storage polysaccharide and its components.

Definition: Starch consists of two polysaccharides: amylose and amylopectin.

Highlight: Starch's properties make it ideal for energy storage: it's insoluble, compact, and easily broken down when needed.

Example: Amylase enzymes break down starch into simpler sugars for energy release.

Page 1: Fundamental Biological Molecules

The first page introduces the four main types of biological molecules, focusing on carbohydrates and their basic structures. Carbohydrate polymers are explained as essential biological compounds.

Definition: Carbohydrates are biological molecules containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with the general formula (CH₂O)n.

Example: Hexose monosaccharides like glucose, fructose, and galactose demonstrate the basic building blocks of carbohydrates.

Vocabulary: Monosaccharides are single-unit sugars that serve as monomers for larger carbohydrate structures.

Highlight: The structural differences between α-glucose and β-glucose illustrate how slight variations in molecular arrangement can affect biological function.