The Irish survived for generations by eating potatoes as their main food staple. What is the main biomolecule in potatoes that allowed them to do that and what is it's primary function for the potato plant?
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The main biomolecule in potatoes that allowed the Irish to survive for generations is starch. Starch is a complex carbohydrate made up of chains of glucose molecules. Its primary function for the potato plant is as a storage molecule.
To understand the main biomolecule in potatoes, you can start by learning about the basic composition of potatoes. Potatoes are a type of tuber, and like other plants, they store energy in the form of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are organic molecules made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.
Once you know that potatoes store carbohydrates, you can dive deeper into the specific carbohydrate that is abundant in potatoes: starch. Starch is a polysaccharide, which means it is a long chain of glucose molecules. Potatoes store starch in specialized storage organs called tubers, which are enlarged underground structures.
Now, let's talk about why this starch was essential for the survival of the Irish. During the potato famine in the mid-19th century, Ireland experienced a catastrophic failure of its potato crops due to a pathogenic fungus. The Irish population heavily relied on potatoes as a primary food staple because they were easy to grow, nutritious, and could be stored for an extended period.
Starch served as an energy reserve for the potato plant, functioning as a long-term storage molecule. Similarly, when consumed by humans, starch is broken down into glucose, providing a significant source of energy. Since potatoes were rich in starch, they provided a reliable source of calories for the Irish population. This fact was crucial during such challenging times when the potato crops failed, leading to widespread famine and displacement.
In summary, the main biomolecule in potatoes that allowed the Irish to survive for generations is starch. Starch is a complex carbohydrate that served as an energy reserve for both the potato plant and the people who consumed them, providing a much-needed source of calories during difficult times.