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Amylose is a component of starch characterized by its straight chains of glucose units. Starches, which are major plant-energy-reserve polysaccharides, are composed of amylose and amylopectin. While amylose has a linear structure, amylopectin is a branched-chain molecule. Most plant starches contain approximately 25% amylose and 75% amylopectin, though selective breeding can alter this proportion. The ability to convert starch into individual glucose units is crucial for human energy intake, a process initiated by enzymes called amylases. Amylose reacts with iodine to form a complex compound with a characteristic blue color.123

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