system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
What is the starchy part of a potato actually used for and is it alive?

The key question I have is, specifically, whether the starchy interior (the vaguely white/manilla colored bit) is full of living cells performing a function or if it's just a collection of sustenance used by the actually living parts of the plant. In either case, how does a potato actually make use of the starchy substance?
gpt
It's alive. Those are storage cells. When the potato sprouts, the stored starch is enzymatically broken down and used to synthesize all the stuff the sprout needs to grow until it can start to photosynthesize itself.