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Protecting cells, controlling incoming and outgoing substances,and maintaining ion concentrations of various substances are three functions of the cell membrane. What are the other two?

User Vasilij
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In addition to protecting cells, controlling incoming and outgoing substances, and maintaining ion concentrations of various substances, the cell membrane performs the following two essential functions:

  • Cell Recognition: The cell membrane contains various proteins, including glycoproteins and glycolipids, that play a crucial role in cell recognition and cell signaling. These molecules help the immune system identify "self" from "non-self" cells and are involved in processes like immune response, tissue compatibility, and cell-to-cell communication.

  • Cell Adhesion: The cell membrane also aids in cell adhesion, which is the ability of cells to stick together. Cell adhesion is critical for forming tissues and organs in multicellular organisms. It helps cells adhere to neighboring cells, extracellular matrix components, and surfaces, contributing to the structural integrity of tissues and the overall organization of cellular structures within an organism. Various proteins and glycoproteins on the cell membrane are involved in these adhesion processes.
User Blobdon
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Answer:

Biological membranes have three primary functions: (1) they keep toxic substances out of the cell; (2) they contain receptors and channels that allow specific molecules, such as ions, nutrients, wastes, and metabolic products, that mediate cellular and extracellular activities to pass between organelles and between the cell and the outside environment; and (3) they separate vital but incompatible metabolic processes conducted within organelles.

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User Llllllllll
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