Cellulose - GCSE Biology Definition

Reviewed by: Lára Marie McIvor

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Cellulose is a large, complex carbohydrate found in the cell walls of plants. It is made up of long chains of glucose molecules linked together, providing structure and strength to the plant. Cellulose is important because it helps plants stand upright and protects them from damage. While humans cannot digest cellulose, it is an important part of our diet as fibre, helping to keep our digestive system healthy. In the GCSE Biology course, you might learn about how cellulose plays a key role in plant structure and how it is different from starch, which is another type of carbohydrate that plants use to store energy.

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Lára Marie McIvor

Reviewer: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology, Psychology & Sociology Subject Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.

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