Question

Name the type of carbohydrate that can be digested by ruminants but not by a human. Give reason.

Answer 1

Hint: The process of digestion as well as the digestive system of humans differ significantly from ruminants as a result of which ruminants can digest a specific carbohydrate which humans cannot.

Complete answer:
The carbohydrate that can be digested by ruminants and not by humans is cellulose which is the most abundant naturally occurring polymer found on earth. Cellulose is a carbohydrate that is mostly present in the cell wall of plants and imparts rigidity and mechanical strength to the plants. Humans are not able to digest cellulose because they lack essential enzymes that could act on the beta acetal linkages of cellulose leading to its degradation to simple monosaccharide sugars.

But ruminants in contrast have a four chambered stomach where the digestion of cellulose takes place by the enzymes secreted by microorganisms located in the first chamber known as rumen. After this it is passed onto the reticulum where further processing of the material took place. Then the finely divided material was passed onto the Omasum where again processing took place and finally it was passed onto the Abomasum where the nutrients are finally released.

Note: Cellulose is an important fiber because it not only serves as a source of nutrient for both humans and other animals but it also has many commercial application such as it is used in he manufacture of paper, cotton, rayon, cellophane and also in pharmaceuticals where they act as stabilizers as well as thickening agent in the production of different drugs.