Question

A person working in your lab creates a synthetic semi-fluid like substance embedded with proteins that transport nutrients and ions. This leads you to believe the substance is most similar to

Answer 1

It is mostly likely the cell membrane.

The cell membrane is a structure of a cell composed of double layer of lipids and proteins. It surrounds a cell and separates the cytoplasm from its surrounding environment. The cell membrane is selectively permeable (semi-permeable), which means that it only lets certain molecules enter and exit. It can also control the amount of some substances that go into or out of the cell.