THE CHEMICAL BASIS OF THE CELL. 25 



cliarides having the formula (C 6 H 10 5 ) n are formed. These in- 

 clude the dextrines or gums, glycogen or animal starch, the ordi- 

 nary starches, and cellulose. Since so many molecules are fused 

 together, it is not to be wondered at that there should be so many 

 varieties of each of these classes of polysaccharides, for, as in the 

 case of proteins, not only may the actual "building stones" of 

 the molecule be different, but they may be built together in very 

 diverse ways. The polysaccharides may be hydrolyzed (i. e., 

 caused to take up water and split up) into disaccharides, and 

 these into monosaccharides by boiling with acids or by the action 

 of diastatic and inversive ferments (see p. 36). 



