Which components make up the plasma membrane?

• A. DNA and RNA
• B. Nucleotides and sugars
• C. Water and minerals
• D. Lipids, Proteins, and Carbohydrates

Answer: (D)

The plasma membrane is built from lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. Lipids form the flexible phospholipid bilayer that creates the barrier; proteins are embedded in or attached to this layer to carry out transport, signaling, and enzymatic functions; carbohydrates are attached to lipids and proteins on the outer surface as glycolipids and glycoproteins, aiding in cell recognition and interactions. DNA and RNA are genetic material housed inside the cell, not components of the membrane; nucleotides and sugars are the building blocks of nucleic acids, not membrane structure; water and minerals are present around and inside the cell but are not the structural constituents of the membrane itself.