Question

Which of the following is not an important role served by the cell membrane?

a)Contributes to cell shape by binding and adhering to adjacent cells.
b)Communicating with adjacent cell.
c)Maintaining a stable internal environment distinct from the surrounding environment.
d)Receiving signals from the environment.
e)Carbohydrates protruding from it allow binding and adhering to adjacent cells.

Answer 1

Option e) is inaccurate because it is generally the proteins and glycoproteins that are involved in cell adhesion, not carbohydrates. The cell membrane's primary roles include defining cell boundaries, controlling substance movement, and facilitating cell signaling and recognition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The cell membrane serves many vital roles in cellular function, but one of the listed options is not an important role served by the cell membrane. Options a), b), c), and d) represent important roles.

However, option e) stating that carbohydrates protruding from the cell membrane allow binding and adhering to adjacent cells is not completely accurate, as it is the proteins and glycoproteins in the cell membrane that interact to form cell-cell junctions and bind to the extracellular matrix (ECM).

Carbohydrates contribute to the glycocalyx, which can participate in cell-cell recognition. The correct answer is: e) Carbohydrates protruding from it allow binding and adhering to adjacent cells is not an important role served by the cell membrane, as this role is primarily served by proteins and glycoproteins.