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35 votes
35 votes
Why is the cell membrane sometimes called the fluid mo-

saic model?
A Many small pieces make one moving design.
B
There is a lot of water in the cell membrane.
C The man who discovered its structure was named Mosaic.
D The cell membrane keeps fluids in the cell.

User Sir Visto
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1 Answer

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14 votes

The cell membrane is sometimes referred to as the fluid mosaic model because A. Many small pieces make a single moving design (i.e. proteins arranged spread out like a mosaic).

The cell membrane, also known as the plasma membrane, is a thin structure consisting of two layers of lipids (lipid bilayer). Among the lipids consist of integral proteins and peripheral proteins arranged in a mosaic that surrounds a cell and each is inserted between two layers of lipids of a fluid consistency. Lipid molecules in cell membranes are amphiphilic, that is, they have a hydrophilic (polar) group on the head and a hydrophobic (non-polar) group on the tail. The cell membrane also consists of oligosaccharides, glycolipids, and cholesterol. Cholesterol is between the phospholipid molecules, and its presence can be reduces the fluidity of the cell membrane.

User Catlard
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