AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Answer: Cellulose is the carbohydrate that can be digested by ruminants but not by humans because humans lack cellulase enzyme required to digest the cellulose.

Detailed explanation-2: -Solution 7: Cellulose (a type of carbohydrate) can be digested by ruminants but not by humans because ruminants have a large sac-like structure called rumen between the oesophagus and the small intestine.

Detailed explanation-3: -There are some animals, such as cows, goats and sheeps which graze grass that have symbiotic bacteria in their abdomen which can digest cellulose. Humans do not have these bacteria nor cellulase, the enzyme needed to break the bonds of cellulose whereas the bacteria in a cow’s gut does produce cellulase.

Detailed explanation-4: -Why can’t humans digest cellulose? Humans cannot digest cellulose because they lack the enzymes essential for breaking the beta-acetyl linkages. The undigested cellulose acts as fibre that aids in the functioning of the intestinal tract.

Detailed explanation-5: -Cattle can digest cellulose because they have cellulose-digesting bacteria called ruminococcus in the rumen. These bacteria produce an enzyme called cellulase that can breakdown cellulose to glucose.