Final answer:
The lipid bilayer of a cell membrane is selectively permeable and requires assistance for certain substances to cross. Facilitated diffusion is a form of passive transport that aids in the movement of specific molecules or ions. The lipid bilayer does not directly facilitate the regulated fusion of membranes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lipid bilayer of a cell membrane is selectively permeable, meaning it allows some substances to pass through while restricting others. This ability is due to the structure of the lipid bilayer, which is composed of phospholipids with hydrophilic heads facing the outside and hydrophobic tails facing the interior. Small, nonpolar molecules like oxygen and carbon dioxide can pass through the lipid bilayer by simple diffusion, while larger or polar molecules require assistance to cross the membrane.
Facilitated diffusion is a form of passive transport that aids the movement of substances across the lipid bilayer. It involves the use of membrane proteins called transporters or channels that facilitate the transport of specific molecules or ions down their concentration gradient. These transporters or channels are selective and can regulate the movement of substances in or out of the cell.
Therefore, the statement that the lipid bilayer facilitates the regulated fusion of membranes is FALSE. While the lipid bilayer provides the structure and selectivity of the cell membrane, it is the membrane proteins that aid in the regulated transport of substances.