The Number of Structurally Different Polysaccharides That Can Be Made

question 100

Essay

The number of structurally different polysaccharides that can be made with 20 different monosaccharides is far greater than the number of different polypeptides that can be made with 20 different amino acids if both polymers contain an equal number (say 100) of total residues. Explain why.

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Definitions:

Grouped Data

Data that has been organized into categories, classes, or intervals, making it easier to analyze and interpret.

Class Midpoint

The value halfway between the lower and upper class limits.

Empirical Rule

A statistical rule stating that for a normal distribution, nearly all data falls within three standard deviations of the mean.

Bell-Shaped Distribution

Another term for the normal distribution, which is symmetric and has its highest point at the mean, decreasing in height as it moves away from the mean.