Question

Which of the following is TRUE about lipids?
a. Animal fats are liquid while plant has solid oils
b. Animal fats are solid while plant has liquid oils
c. Animal and plants both have solid fats
d. Animal and plants both have liquid oils

Answer 1

Lipids work as the structural components of cell membranes, which function as permeable barriers to the external environment of cells. In plants, lipids have roles as signalling and energy storage compounds and these include triacylglycerols, phospholipids, galactolipids, and sphingolipids.

Complete answer:
As we already know, a lipid is referred to as a substance which is insoluble in water and soluble in ether, alcohol, and chloroform. You should know, Lipids are an essential component of living cells and with carbohydrates and proteins, they are the main constituents of animal and plant cells. Remember, Cholesterol as well as triglycerides are lipids

However, lipids having unsaturated fatty acids (or unsaturated fat) remain liquid at room temperature and therefore they are called 'oils'. On the other hand, the fats of animal origin are termed as 'animal fat' and of plants are referred as 'plant fats'.

Let’s discuss some differences between animal and plant lipids:
• Animal Lipids are rich in saturated fatty acids and because of their saturation they stay solid at room temperature, hence commonly called ‘fats’. They are stored in the liver and also beneath the skin etc. Remember, animals have special cells to store fat reserve known as adipocytes

• Plant Lipids are comparatively rich in unsaturated fatty acids and because of their high unsaturation they stay liquid at room temperature and therefore are commonly called ‘oils’. Plant lipids are stored or saved in fruits and seeds. Because plants do not have adipocytes for storing fats that’s why, fats are stored in form of granules (or oil droplets) in endosperm cells of seeds or other cells

Now let’s recap, Animal fats and oils are lipid materials made from animals but physically oils are liquid at room temperature whereas fats are solid. Remember that both fats and oils are chemically composed of triglycerides.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Additional information:
It’s interesting to know, “Bad” fats, like artificial trans fats and saturated fats are responsible for the unhealthy things all fats have been blamed for example weight gain, clogged arteries, an increased risk of certain diseases etc.

Note: Remember that the majority of saturated fats are animal fats and found in high fat meats and dairy products. Saturated fat sources consist of-fatty cuts of beef, pork, and lamb, dark chicken meat and poultry skin, high fat dairy foods, and lard.