What is a characteristic function of the bacterial cell membrane?

The characteristic function of the bacterial cell membrane primarily revolves around the control of substance entry and exit. This membrane acts as a selective barrier, regulating the passage of ions, nutrients, and waste products in and out of the cell. This selective permeability is crucial for maintaining the internal environment of the cell, allowing it to respond to changes in the external environment and facilitating necessary biochemical processes.

While protein synthesis, energy metabolism, and genetic material storage are also essential functions in bacterial cells, they are not directly performed by the cell membrane itself. Protein synthesis occurs in the ribosomes, energy metabolism involves various cellular processes that utilize enzymes and metabolic pathways, and genetic material is stored within the nucleoid region of the cell, not within the membrane. Therefore, the ability of the bacterial cell membrane to regulate what enters and exits the cell is its defining and characteristic function.