Which statement about cholesterol is NOT true?

• A. Normal total cholesterol is < 200
• B. Normal triglycerides is < 150
• C. It is found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes
• D. It is considered a type of lipid

Answer: (C)

Cholesterol is a lipid that acts as a sterol in eukaryotic membranes, helping regulate fluidity and serving as a precursor for steroid hormones. In prokaryotes, cholesterol is not a typical membrane component; many bacteria use hopanoids instead to play a similar stabilizing role. There are rare exceptions—some Mycoplasma species can incorporate cholesterol from their environment to stabilize their membranes—but this is not the usual situation. Therefore, the claim that cholesterol is found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes isn’t accurate. The other statements align with common knowledge: normal total cholesterol is considered under 200 mg/dL, normal triglycerides under 150 mg/dL, and cholesterol is a type of lipid.