Which statement correctly describes glycolipids?

• A. Lipids with a carbohydrate attached.
• B. Lipids with a phosphate group attached.
• C. Proteins with carbohydrate attached.
• D. Nucleic acids with sugar attached.

Answer: (A)

Glycolipids are lipids that have a carbohydrate attached to their head group. This sugar component protrudes on the cell surface and helps with cell recognition and signaling, which is a hallmark feature of glycolipids in the membrane. The presence of a carbohydrate distinguishes them from other lipid types, such as phospholipids that have a phosphate group in their head. The other options describe different biomolecules—proteins with carbohydrate are glycoproteins, and nucleic acids with sugar describe nucleic acids—not glycolipids. So the correct idea is that glycolipids are lipids with a carbohydrate attached.