Out of the given options, option B is not a function of the cell membrane, as prokaryotes do not contain cell membranes.
The cell membrane, also known as the plasma membrane, has several important functions:
A) The cell membrane provides a place for cellular reactions to take place. Many integral proteins and phospholipids in the membrane are involved in cellular processes like respiration and cell signaling.
C) The fluid nature of the cell membrane, made up of the phospholipid bilayer, helps a cell alter its shape when needed. For example, white blood cells alter their shape to engulf pathogens.
D) The cell membrane acts as a barrier, keeping the cytoplasm and intracellular organelles contained within the cell. It regulates the movement of molecules and ions in and out through processes like osmosis and diffusion.
B) Prokaryotes like bacteria do not have membrane-bound organelles. They carry out cell division by binary fission, not by using a cell membrane. Therefore, option B is incorrect and not a function of the cell membrane.
In summary, the cell membrane performs many critical roles, but aiding cell division in prokaryotes is not one of them.