Question

Name the type of carbohydrate that can be digested by ruminants but not
by humans. Give the reasons.

Answer 1

Cellulose. Humans, unlike cows don't have the necessary bacteria in their intestines that make the enzymes (cellulases) necessary to breakdown the 1-4 beta glucose bonds. So we cannot break down cellulose into its constituent glucose molecules as we do with starch. Therefore this is secreted as unbroken down chains of glucose called fiber.