Monosaccharide Simple sugars from which more complex carbohydrates

Monosaccharide Simple sugars (monomers) from which more complex carbohydrates are constructed. 

Polysaccharides You may have seen large carbohydrate polymers referred to as complex carbohydrates in nutritional references. Another name for a complex carbohydrate is polysaccharide, which is a polymer of simple sugars that contains 12 or more monomer units. The same type of bond that joins two monosaccharides in a disaccharide links them together in a polysaccharide. Pasta is a good source of polysaccharides. The pasta shown in Figure 24-10b contains large amounts of starch, a polysaccharide from plants. 

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