fluid mosaic model

Question 1

fluid

Answer 1

membrane is described as fluid because the components (lipids and proteins) move around within the layer

Question 2

mosaic

Answer 2

mosaic described the scattered pattern of the proteins, when viewed from above

Question 3

phospholipid role

Answer 3

forms a barrier for all substances entering and leaving the cell, only allows small, non-polar molecules to pass through

Question 4

proteins role

Answer 4

create a polar environment for transport of metabolites/water

Question 5

what increases membrane fluidity

Answer 5

phospholipids of the membrane are a mixture, some have saturated fatty acid tails and unsaturated fatty acid tails. an excess of unsaturated fatty acid tails make the membrane more fluid as the kinks in the tails prevent close-packing of the lipids

Question 6

what reduces membrane fluidity

Answer 6

presence of cholesterol reduce fluidity by preventing or reducing the movements of the lipid molecules

Question 7

if temperature of a membrane falls

Answer 7

it becomes less fluid → risk of solidifying

Question 8

importance of fluidity

Answer 8

membrane must be sufficiently fluid for many of the proteins present to move about and function correctly