Question 1

These polysaccharides are made of glucose.

Accepted Answer

All of the polysaccharides listed (amylose, amylopectin, glycogen, and cellulose) are made of glucose. Amylose and amylopectin are both types of starch, while glycogen is a storage polysaccharide in animals, and cellulose is a structural polysaccharide in plants.

Question 2

Most animals cannot digest cellulose. However, those with a second stomach, containing specific bacteria that produce β-glycosidases, can digest cellulose. What is the role of the β-glycosidase in digesting cellulose?

Accepted Answer

β-glycosidase catalyzes the hydrolysis of cellulose by breaking the β-glycosidic bonds between glucose units in cellulose, releasing glucose monomers that can be absorbed by the animal's digestive system.

Question 3

Which statement best describes how a cell distinguishes between a host cell and foreign cell?

Accepted Answer

Oligosaccharide cell markers on the surface of the cell can be recognized by the immune system as "self" or "foreign". This distinction allows the immune system to target and destroy foreign cells or pathogens, while leaving host cells unharmed. Antibodies and T-cells play a role in this process, but the initial recognition is based on the presence or absence of specific oligosaccharide markers.

Question 4

Cellulose and starch are similar in that they are both polymers of glucose. Cellulose, however, forms sheet-like structures, which give rigidity to a plant, whereas starch forms spirals. What accounts for this difference in macroscopic structure?

Accepted Answer

The difference in macroscopic structure between cellulose and starch is due to the difference in their glycosidic linkages. Cellulose has a beta-glycosidic linkage (F1F1F1S1βF1F1F10-(1→4) linkage) which results in straight chains that can form sheet-like structures, whereas starch has an alpha-glycosidic linkage (F1F1F1S1αF1F1F10-(1→4) linkage) which results in coiled chains that form spirals. The other answer choices are incorrect as they do not accurately explain the difference in macroscopic structure.

Question 5

Animals cannot digest________, but ruminants such as horses and cows have bacteria in their digestive track that can digest it.

Accepted Answer

Animals cannot digest cellulose, but ruminants such as horses and cows have bacteria in their digestive tract that can digest it. Amylose, amylopectin, and glycogen are all forms of starch that animals can digest.

Question 6

Which of the following blood types can be donated to someone with type A blood?

Accepted Answer

Individuals with type A blood can receive blood from those with the same type A blood or from those with type O blood, as type O is considered a universal donor for red blood cells.

Question 7

A patient with chronic pancreatitis has her pancreas removed. Which of the following effects would be most likely?

Accepted Answer

Removing the pancreas would result in the loss of insulin-secreting beta cells. Without these cells, the patient would be unable to produce insulin to regulate blood sugar levels, leading to Type I diabetes.

Question 8

Why can't insulin be taken orally?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why can't insulin be taken orally?
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Question 9

The result of a patient's Fasting Plasma Glucose Test is 60 mg glucose per deciliter. This patient is

Accepted Answer

A fasting plasma glucose level of 60 mg/dL is below the normal range (70-99 mg/dL) and indicates hypoglycemia.

Question 10

Insulin acts to __________, whereas glucagon __________.

Accepted Answer

Insulin decreases blood sugar by promoting glucose uptake in cells and storage as glycogen, while glucagon increases blood sugar by stimulating glycogen breakdown (glycogenolysis) and gluconeogenesis, the synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, such as amino acids and fats.

Question 11

Which statement best describes at the molecular level why AB is the universal acceptor?

Accepted Answer

The reason AB is the universal acceptor is because it contains both the type A and type B monosaccharides in addition to the core trisaccharide, making it able to accept both type A and type B blood without an immune response.

Question 12

Which of the following choices matches the descriptions of Type I and Type II diabetes and their treatments?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following choices matches the...

Question 13

Which of the following statements describes the role of insulin in the body? I. Insulin signals to cells to allow glucose to enter.
II) Insulin stimulates the conversion of glucose to glycogen.
III) Insulin stimulates the hydrolysis of glucose from glycogen.

Accepted Answer

Insulin signals to cells to allow glucose to enter and stimulates the conversion of glucose to glycogen, but it does not stimulate the hydrolysis of glucose from glycogen.

Question 14

Type _____ blood is the universal donor, whereas type _____ is the universal recipient.

Accepted Answer

Type O blood has no antigens on the surface of its red blood cells, making it safe to give to people with any blood type. Type AB blood has both A and B antigens on the surface of its red blood cells, making it able to receive blood from any blood type.

Question 15

A patient undergoing a kidney transplant is given a kidney from a person with type B blood when the patient is, in fact, type O. What effect of this mistake would be most likely?

Accepted Answer

The mistake of giving a kidney from a person with type B blood to a patient who is type O can result in organ failure due to the recipient's antibodies attacking the foreign tissue. This is because type O blood is the universal donor and does not have antibodies for A or B antigens, while type B blood has B antigens that will be recognized as foreign by the recipient's immune system. This can lead to organ rejection and failure.

Question 16

Which of the following blood types is most common?

Accepted Answer

Blood type O is the most common, with approximately 45% of the population having this blood type. Blood type A is the second most common, with approximately 40% of the population having this blood type. Blood type B is less common, with approximately 10% of the population having this blood type. Blood type AB is the rarest, with only approximately 5% of the population having this blood type.

Question 17

Which of the following is the best definition for diabetes?

Accepted Answer

Diabetes is a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels due to either insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels, is not a defining symptom of diabetes. Excess insulin can actually lead to hypoglycemia and is not associated with diabetes. Choice E is too broad and doesn't specify the role of insulin in the disorder.

Question 18

Which of the following sugars is called "blood sugar"?

Accepted Answer

Glucose is the only sugar that is referred to as "blood sugar" because it is the primary source of energy for the body's cells and is constantly circulating in the bloodstream. Glycogen is a storage form of glucose in the body, while fructose and sucrose are other types of sugars found in food.

Quiz 11: Carbohydrates: Structure and Function