NAME: GATMAITAN, KYLIE ELISHA M.

DATE: FEBRUARY 10, 2020

YEAR AND SECTION: 1ST YEAR DASH 2

HW 1 – Carbohydrates

Answer the ff. questions:

1. What is the physiological significance of branching in polysaccharides?
The enzymes that build up and break down glycogen and starch act on the free ends of the
polysaccharides. Having a great deal of branching ensures that plants and animals can quickly
add to their energy supply when energy is plentiful, or break it down the storage molecules
when energy is in short supply.
Therefore, by changing the configuration of glucose molecules, instead of a structural
polysaccharide, the molecule will branch and store many more bonds in a smaller space. The
only difference between cellulose and starch is the configuration of the glucose used.

2. Discuss briefly the cause of lactose intolerance.

Lactose intolerance is usually the result of your body not producing enough lactase. Lactase is
an enzyme (a protein that causes a chemical reaction to occur) normally produced in your small
intestine that's used to digest lactose.
Basically, it is caused by a deficiency of the intestinal enzyme lactase that splits lactose into two
smaller sugars, glucose and galactose, and allows lactose to be absorbed from the intestine.
Virtually all individuals are born with lactase and the ability to digest lactose.

3. Why humans do not have the capacity to digest cellobiose or cellulose?

Humans cannot digest cellulose because they lack the enzymes essential for breaking the beta-
acetyl linkages. The undigested cellulose acts as fibre that aids in the functioning of the
intestinal tract.
To add, as omnivores, we get enough energy from the fats carbohydrates & proteins of our
natural diet, which is high-grade, concentrated nourishment: meat, fruit, tubers, fish, shellfish,
carrion & nuts. Grass is a very poor nutrient, so it is worthwhile for herbivores to extract some
energy from the enormous volume of cellulose they have to eat in order to get adequate protein.

4. What is the difference between a carbohydrate and sugar?

There are two major types of carbs: simple and complex. The difference between them lies in
the number of sugar molecules they contain. Simple carbs — also known as simple sugars —
contain one or two sugar molecules, whereas complex carbs have three or more. A simple
sugar may be a mono- or disaccharide.
Simple carbohydrates are fast-digesting sugars which can be found in complex carbohydrates,
but they are also an important ingredient in processed foods. These include monosaccharides
and disaccharides. Monosaccharides are often referred to as single sugars and are the building
blocks for which larger, more complex carbohydrates can be made.
While complex carbohydrates are sugars that naturally occur in whole foods and take longer to
digest. Many have prebiotic properties that nourish beneficial bacteria in the gut. These are
made up of more than two sugar molecules. They can be split into two categories:
oligosaccharides and polysaccharides.
References:

 Biologydictionary.net Editors. (2017, January 20). Polysaccharide. Retrieved from

https://biologydictionary.net/polysaccharide/
 ChemPages Netorials. (2020). Polysaccharide. Retrieved from
https://www2.chem.wisc.edu/deptfiles/genchem/netorial/modules/biomolecules/
modules/carbs/carb6.htm#:~:text=The%20enzymes%20that%20build%20up,energy
%20is%20in%20short%20supply
 Marks J. (2021) Lactose Intolerance. Retrieved from
https://www.medicinenet.com/lactose_intolerance/article.htm
 NHS Editors. (2019, February 25) Lactose Intolerence. Retrieved from
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lactoseintolerance/causes/#:~:text=Lactose
%20intolerance%20is%20usually%20the,does%20not%20produce%20enough
%20lactase
 BYJUS Editor. (2021) Cellulose in Digestion. Retrieved from
https://byjus.com/biology/cellulose-in-digestion/#:~:text=Humans%20cannot%20digest
%20cellulose%20because,functioning%20of%20the%20intestinal%20tract
 Edermaniger L. (2020, August 11) Carbs Vs Sugar: What’s the difference? Retrieved
from https://atlasbiomed.com/blog/carbs-vs-sugar-what-is-the-difference/