The nuclear membrane, also known as the nuclear envelope, is a double-layered structure that surrounds the nucleus of an animal cell. It serves as a barrier between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, effectively separating the genetic material from the rest of the cell.
This membrane is composed of two lipid bilayers: an inner and an outer membrane. The space between these two membranes is called the perinuclear space. The nuclear membrane is dotted with thousands of protein-based structures known as nuclear pores, which regulate the movement of molecules in and out of the nucleus.
The nuclear membrane plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the genetic material and facilitates essential processes such as transcription, where DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA. Without the nuclear membrane, the delicate processes of cell division and gene regulation would be compromised.