Cell Membrane Function and Structure Quiz

What is the primary function of cell membranes?

• To produce energy for the cell

• To enclose the contents of the cell and regulate passage of materials

• To store genetic information

• To synthesize proteins

What characteristic of phospholipids makes them form bilayers in water?

• They are completely hydrophobic

• They are completely hydrophilic

• They are amphipathic, having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts

• They are charged molecules

Which type of protein spans the bilayer and is permanently attached to the membrane?

• Peripheral proteins

• Integral proteins

• Enzymatic proteins

• Structural proteins

What property allows cell membranes to regulate the passage of certain materials?

• They are impermeable

• They are selective

• They are rigid

• They are transparent

What holds the phospholipid bilayer together?

• Strong covalent bonds

• Weak hydrophobic associations

• Ionic bonds

• Hydrogen bonds

What is one of the key functions of membrane proteins related to cell identification?

• Transport

• Recognition

• Adhesion

• Transduction

What process results in the formation of glycoproteins?

• Glycolysis

• Glycosylation

• Photosynthesis

• Transcription

What is the role of surface carbohydrates in cell adhesion?

• They act as enzymes

• They serve as attachment points

• They transport materials

• They function as receptors

Who proposed the fluid-mosaic model of membrane structure?

• Watson and Crick

• Singer and Nicolson

• Mendel and Darwin

• Franklin and Wilkins

What quality of the plasma membrane allows phospholipids to move and change shape?

• Rigid

• Amorphous

• Solid

• Fixed