what would happen to a cell that lacked smooth endoplasmic reticulum?
a. its cell membrane would be impermeable.
b. it would not be able to replicate dna.
c. it would not be able to produce trna.
d. it would not be able to make lipids.
d. it would not be able to make lipids.
d. It would not be able to make lipids.
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) is responsible for various functions in a cell, including lipid synthesis, detoxification of drugs and toxins, and the metabolism of carbohydrates. If a cell lacks SER, it would not be able to produce lipids, which are essential components of the cell membrane, signaling molecules, and energy storage molecules. However, the lack of SER would not affect the cell membrane's permeability, DNA replication, or tRNA production directly.
To determine the answer to this question, let's first understand the function of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) in a cell.
The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is involved in various important cellular processes. One of its primary functions is lipid metabolism, including the synthesis of lipids (such as phospholipids and cholesterol) and the detoxification of drugs and toxins. It also plays a role in calcium storage, carbohydrate metabolism, and steroid hormone production.
Now, let's consider the options given:
a. Its cell membrane would be impermeable:
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is not directly involved in maintaining the cell membrane's permeability. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
b. It would not be able to replicate DNA:
DNA replication occurs in the nucleus of the cell, not in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Hence, this option is incorrect.
c. It would not be able to produce tRNA:
The production of tRNA (transfer RNA) primarily occurs in the nucleus and nucleolus, not in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
d. It would not be able to make lipids:
This option is correct. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is responsible for lipid synthesis, including the production of phospholipids, cholesterol, and other lipids. If a cell lacks smooth endoplasmic reticulum, it would be unable to produce these essential lipids.
Therefore, the correct answer is d. It would not be able to make lipids.