Why can you not digest cellulose? what organisms can?

Question

Grant Howell

Biology

6 July, 10:20

Why can you not digest cellulose? what organisms can?

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Jacqueline Montgomery · Answer 1

Cellulose is an organic compound and is a polysaccharide or a complex carbohydrate. This substance made up the covering or the walls of the plant cells. This is consists of more than 3,000 units of glucose. This is a hard material making the plants and trees sturdy.

Humans are unable to digest the cellulose because we do not have the appropriate enzyme that would allow us to digest them. This enzyme is cellulase.

One of the many organisms that have this type of enzyme are the termites that is why they feed on the walls of houses made of wood.