Which of the following statements regarding animal cell membrane is correct ?
They are composed of phospholipids only.
They are composed of proteins only.
They are composed of phospholipids and proteins only.
They are composed of phospholipids, proteins and cholesterol (lipid).
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
The animal cell membrane is a complex structure composed of a phospholipid bilayer, various proteins embedded within or associated with the bilayer, and cholesterol. Phospholipids form the basic structural framework. Proteins perform diverse functions like transport, signaling, and recognition. Cholesterol, a type of lipid, is present in animal cell membranes and plays a crucial role in regulating membrane fluidity and stability. Therefore, the animal cell membrane is composed of phospholipids, proteins, and cholesterol.
The fluid mosaic model is the widely accepted model describing the structure of the cell membrane, depicting it as a fluid bilayer of lipids with proteins embedded or associated with it.