Humans can digest starch but not cellulose because
A)the monomer of starch is glucose, while the monomer of cellulose is galactose.
B)humans have enzymes that can hydrolyze the beta (β)glycosidic linkages of starch but not the alpha (α)glycosidic linkages of cellulose.
C)humans have enzymes that can hydrolyze the alpha (α)glycosidic linkages of starch but not the beta (β)glycosidic linkages of cellulose.
D)humans harbor starch-digesting bacteria in the digestive tract.
E)the monomer of starch is glucose, while the monomer of cellulose is maltose.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Humans have enzymes such as amylase that can break down the alpha (α)glycosidic linkages of starch in the small intestine. However, humans lack the enzyme necessary to break down the beta (β)glycosidic linkages of cellulose, so it passes through the digestive system undigested.

Humans Can Digest Starch but Not Cellulose Because