Living organisms break down polysaccharides into which of the following?

• A. Lipids
• B. Monosaccharides
• C. Amino acids
• D. Nucleotides

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the question: The problem asks what living organisms break down polysaccharides into. Polysaccharides are large carbohydrate molecules made up of repeating units of simpler sugars.
2. Recall the definition of polysaccharides: Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides (simple sugars) linked together by glycosidic bonds. Examples include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.
3. Identify the process: Living organisms use enzymes like amylase to hydrolyze (break down) polysaccharides into their simpler components. This process involves breaking the glycosidic bonds through hydrolysis, which adds water molecules to split the bonds.
4. Determine the product: The breakdown of polysaccharides results in monosaccharides, which are the simplest form of carbohydrates. For example, starch is broken down into glucose, a common monosaccharide.
5. Eliminate incorrect options: Lipids, amino acids, and nucleotides are not related to the breakdown of polysaccharides. Lipids are fats, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA. The correct answer is monosaccharides.