Which of the following is an example of a monomer that forms carbohydrates?

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Monosaccharides are the basic building blocks, or monomers, of carbohydrates. They are simple sugars that can combine through dehydration synthesis to form more complex carbohydrates, such as disaccharides and polysaccharides. For instance, when two monosaccharides like glucose and fructose join, they create sucrose, a disaccharide. This structural role as the primary monomer is fundamental to the structure and function of carbohydrates, as they serve as essential energy sources and structural components in living organisms.

In contrast, amino acids serve as the monomers for proteins, nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA, and fatty acids are components of lipids. Each of these has its own unique function and structural role in biological systems, but they do not contribute to the formation of carbohydrates. This distinction highlights the uniqueness of monosaccharides in carbohydrate formation.

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