Question

What advantage would an organism have if it can break down starch?

Answer 1

• Starch is a polysaccharide(carbohydrate) i.e., it is a polymer made of glucose units linked together by glycosidic bonds.
• Green plants produce starch utilizing sunlight. It acts as an energy reservoir in them.
• Organisms such as bacteria, plants, animals, etc make use of starch and in all these organisms it acts as energy storage.
• The common mechanism by which they utilize starch is by enzymatic degradation ( the commonly used enzyme is amylase) and converting it to glucose which enters the glycolytic pathway to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate) or energy when required.

Uses of breaking down of starch.

• In bacteria, and plants the energy produced, is required to grow, reproduce, and perform all other metabolic activities that are essential for survival.
• In animals, the breakdown of starch has wide uses such as:

1. It acts as a fuel for the brain which controls all the activities in our body and provides us with energy required to grow.
2. It provides energy to the muscles and helps in the movement.
3. It enhances the efficiency of the digestive system.
4. It provides fiber to the body
5. Because the energy required is obtained from starch, other nutrients such as protein and fats are not broken down for energy but are used for other purposes in the body.

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