Which organelle makes lipids?

• A. Smooth ER
• B. Rough ER
• C. Golgi apparatus
• D. Ribosomes

Answer: (A)

Lipids are synthesized in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. This organelle is equipped with enzymes that assemble fatty acids into lipids such as phospholipids and cholesterol, which are essential for cell membranes and signaling. The smooth ER lacks ribosomes, giving it a smooth appearance, unlike the rough ER which is studded with ribosomes and focused on making proteins. The Golgi apparatus processes and packages lipids and proteins after synthesis, but it does not create lipids itself. Ribosomes are the cellular machinery that builds proteins from amino acids. For lipid production, the smooth endoplasmic reticulum is the site.