How does the function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) compare to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in the cell?

• A. The rough ER is involved in detoxification, while the smooth ER is involved in protein folding.
• B. The rough ER is involved in protein synthesis, while the smooth ER is involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification.
• C. Both the rough and smooth ER are primarily involved in carbohydrate metabolism.
• D. The rough ER is responsible for lipid synthesis, while the smooth ER is responsible for protein synthesis.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the structure of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER): The ER is a network of membranes within the cell, and it comes in two forms - rough and smooth.
2. Identify the rough ER: The rough ER is studded with ribosomes on its surface, which gives it a 'rough' appearance under a microscope.
3. Determine the function of the rough ER: The presence of ribosomes indicates that the rough ER is primarily involved in protein synthesis. Ribosomes are the sites where amino acids are assembled into proteins.
4. Identify the smooth ER: The smooth ER lacks ribosomes, giving it a 'smooth' appearance.
5. Determine the function of the smooth ER: The smooth ER is involved in lipid synthesis, detoxification processes, and carbohydrate metabolism. It plays a role in synthesizing lipids and steroids, metabolizing carbohydrates, and detoxifying drugs and poisons.