polysaccharide
Definition
Polysaccharides are long carbohydrate molecules composed of monosaccharide units bonded together by glycosidic linkages. They serve as energy storage and structural components in living organisms.
Analogy
Think of a polysaccharide as a freight train, where each car (monosaccharide) is linked to the next to transport goods (energy or structural support) across long distances within an organism.
Related terms
Monosaccharide: The simplest form of sugar and the most basic units of carbohydrates.
Glycogen: A polysaccharide that serves as a form of energy storage in animals and fungi.
Cellulose: A polysaccharide that acts as a primary structural component of plant cell walls
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