A structural polysaccharide found in many fungal cell walls and in the exoskeletons of arthropods.

A structural polysaccharide found in many fungal cell walls and in the exoskeletons of arthropods.

• A. Chitin
• B. Provirus
• C. Decomposer
• D. Bacteria

Answer: (A)

Chitin is a structural polysaccharide made of repeating units of N-acetylglucosamine linked by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds. This tough, flexible polymer provides rigidity and protection, forming the cell walls of many fungi and the hard exoskeletons of arthropods such as insects and crustaceans. Because of its strength and resistance to degradation, it serves as a key structural component in these organisms. The other terms don’t describe a polysaccharide component of those structures: a provirus is viral genetic material integrated into a host genome, a decomposer refers to an organism that breaks down dead material, and bacteria are a type of organism rather than a structural polysaccharide found in fungal walls or arthropod exoskeletons.

Chitin is a structural polysaccharide made of repeating units of N-acetylglucosamine linked by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds. This tough, flexible polymer provides rigidity and protection, forming the cell walls of many fungi and the hard exoskeletons of arthropods such as insects and crustaceans. Because of its strength and resistance to degradation, it serves as a key structural component in these organisms.

The other terms don’t describe a polysaccharide component of those structures: a provirus is viral genetic material integrated into a host genome, a decomposer refers to an organism that breaks down dead material, and bacteria are a type of organism rather than a structural polysaccharide found in fungal walls or arthropod exoskeletons.