Question

Why is cellulose so difficult for most animals to digest?

Answer 1

Cellulose is so difficult for most animals to digest because they don’t have the proper enzyme to break the bonds between subunits.  

Further explanation

Cellulose

It is a polysaccharide compound which is difficult to be digested by animals because they don’t have the enzyme needed to break it. It has many monosaccharide molecules bind together by glycosidic bond.  

Glycosidic bond

It is a covalent bond. It is formed between two monosaccharide with the removal of one water molecule. It is of two types, Alpha (between C-1 of one monosaccharide and C-2 of other monosaccharide) and beta (also between the C-1 of one monosaccharide and C-2 of another monosaccharide). Enzymes are required for breakdown of cellulose. In our body various enzymes are present for the breakdown of carbohydrates but these enzymes can never digest cellulose. Our enzymes are unable to break beta glycosidic bond but they can break the alpha glycosidic bond. A bond is present in glycogen and starch so these can be digested by human beings. It is thought that such enzymes are produced by vermiform appendix.  In herbivores the enzymes which are required for the breakdown of cellulose are present in their digestive tracts so they can digest cellulose.  

Animal which can digest cellulose

Grazing animals like cattle can digest cellulose because they have symbiotic bacteria in their intestine and these bacteria hep them in digestion because of special enzymes in them.

Answer details

Subject: Chemistry

Level: High school

Keywords

• Cellulose
• Glycosidic bond
• Animal which can digest cellulose

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Answer 2

The answer is C .Cellulose is a long chain of glucose and to be able to use any of the energy stored in them an organism must break it down into single glucose molecules, and this is why most animals go for a different diet. The chain is very difficult to break down and must be treated with concentrated acids at high temperature. This is a hard task to do and often time needs many stomachs.