PolysaccharidesAQA A-Level Biology: Mind map

Exam questions on Polysaccharides

1. A student compares three polysaccharides: glycogen from liver tissue, starch from a potato and cellulose from plant cell walls.
   Explain how the structure of glycogen makes it suitable as an energy store in liver cells.2 marks
2. The muscle cells of a sprinter must release glucose for respiration very rapidly during a 100 m race. The cells of a potato tuber, by contrast, store starch for use over several weeks.
   Explain why glycogen is better than unbranched amylose as a store of glucose for rapid release.2 marks
3. Plant cell walls contain cellulose. A plant cell placed in pure water takes in water by osmosis, but it does not burst.
   Explain how cellulose molecules are arranged to give the cell wall strength.3 marks