Question:

Which of the following is not the function of plasma membrane?

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Plasma membrane = Boundary management (transport, secretion, communication, joining). Genetic processes (DNA/RNA synthesis) belong to the internal core (nucleus).
Updated On: Apr 28, 2026
  • Endocytosis
  • Formation of intercellular junctions
  • Secretion
  • DNA synthesis
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept: The plasma membrane is a dynamic, semi-permeable lipid bilayer that acts as the boundary of the cell and mediates cellular interactions.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach: Review the functional repertoire of the plasma membrane versus the internal organelles of a cell.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation: The plasma membrane serves several critical functions at the cell surface.
It facilitates the bulk intake of materials via vesicular invagination, known as Endocytosis (Option 1).
It contains specialized proteins that link adjacent cells together, resulting in the Formation of intercellular junctions like tight junctions and desmosomes (Option 2).
It is actively involved in exocytosis, which facilitates the Secretion of cellular products into the extracellular space (Option 3).
However, DNA synthesis (replication) is a highly regulated genetic process that occurs strictly within the intracellular compartment—specifically inside the nucleus in eukaryotes, or within the nucleoid region of the cytoplasm in prokaryotes. The plasma membrane is entirely uninvolved in the biochemical synthesis of DNA.
Step 4: Final Answer: DNA synthesis is not a function of the plasma membrane.
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