Question

Cholesterol, though it is not an energy molecule, has importance in the body because it ________. cholesterol, though it is not an energy molecule, has importance in the body because it ________. helps provide essential nutrients to the brain and lungs helps mobilize fats during periods of starvation is a stabilizing component of the plasma membranes and is the parent molecule of steroid hormones enters the glycolytic pathway without being altered

Answer 1

Cholesterol is vital for the body as it is integral to cell membrane stability and functions as a precursor to steroid hormones, vitamin D, and bile salts necessary for fat digestion.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cholesterol, though it is not an energy molecule, has importance in the body because it is a stabilizing component of the plasma membranes and is the parent molecule of steroid hormones. Cholesterol is essential for the proper functioning of the body, despite its negative reputation among laypeople.

It not only supports the structure of plasma membranes in animal cells but also serves as a precursor for vital biological molecules such as hormones (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone), vitamin D, and bile salts which are crucial for emulsification and absorption of fats. Additionally, cholesterol is involved in signaling processes and is a key component in nerve cells.

Answer 2

The correct answer is "is a stabilizing component of the plasma membranes and is the parent molecule of steroid hormones".

Cholesterol makes the plasma membranes stable by slightly immobilizing it and making it less permeable to molecules. This, in turn, results to a cell membrane with decreased fluidity and decreased permeability but with increased stability.