What defines a polysaccharide?

A polysaccharide is defined as a complex carbohydrate made up of many sugar molecules that are chemically bonded together. This definition encompasses the structural and functional characteristics of polysaccharides, which include starch, cellulose, and glycogen, among others. These large molecules can consist of hundreds to thousands of monosaccharide units, providing a significant energy source as well as structural support in plants and animals.

In contrast, the other options describe different categories of biomolecules. Simple sugars, or monosaccharides, are the building blocks of carbohydrates but do not fit the structure of polysaccharides. Proteins are formed from amino acids and serve entirely different biological roles than carbohydrates. Fats, specifically triglycerides, are made up of glycerol and fatty acids, which categorize them as lipids rather than carbohydrates. Understanding these distinctions is essential for recognizing the role of polysaccharides in nutrition and biochemistry.