Final answer:
Statement A is true, as cholesterol has a hydrophilic head. Statement B is false, phosphatidylserine is not the most abundant phospholipid. Statement C is true, glycolipids lack glycerol. Statement D is false, the lipid bilayer's structure is energetically favorable.
Step-by-step explanation:
Indicate whether the following statements are true or false. If a statement is false, explain why it is false.
- A. True. Although cholesterol is a hydrophobic molecule, it does have a hydrophilic head group, which allows it to interact favorably with the hydrophilic portions of the membrane lipids and the aqueous environments inside and outside the cell.
- B. False. Phosphatidylserine is not the most abundant type of phospholipid found in cell membranes. Instead, phosphatidylcholine is often more abundant in many cell membranes.
- C. True. Glycolipids lack the glycerol component found in phospholipids, as they have a different structure with carbohydrates attached to a lipid molecule.
- D. False. The highly ordered structure of the lipid bilayer is actually energetically favorable due to the hydrophobic interactions between the tails of phospholipids, which drive the formation and maintenance of the bilayer in an aqueous environment.