Question

Animal starch is the other name of

• A. amylose
• B. maltose
• C. glycogen
• D. amylopectin

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The question asks us to identify the substance known as "animal starch." The correct answer is glycogen. Let's understand why glycogen is referred to as animal starch and why the other options are incorrect.

1. Glycogen: Glycogen is a polysaccharide that serves as a form of energy storage in animals and fungi. In humans and other vertebrates, it is stored primarily in the liver and muscle cells. Glycogen is structurally similar to amylopectin (a component of starch), but it is more highly branched. This structural similarity is the reason it is referred to as "animal starch."
2. Amylose: Amylose is a polysaccharide that is one of the two components of starch, the other being amylopectin. Amylose has a linear structure, unlike glycogen, which is highly branched. Amylose is found in plants, not animals, so it cannot be called animal starch.
3. Maltose: Maltose is a disaccharide composed of two glucose units. It is a product of starch hydrolysis. Since maltose is not a polysaccharide and does not serve the same storage function as glycogen, it cannot be referred to as animal starch.
4. Amylopectin: Like amylose, amylopectin is a component of plant starch. Although amylopectin is branched, similar to glycogen, it is derived from plants and not animals. Therefore, it cannot be termed animal starch.

In conclusion, glycogen is the appropriate term for animal starch due to its storage role and structural similarity to plant starch components like amylopectin. Hence, the correct answer is glycogen.