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The word "bilayer" in the term "phospholipid bilayer" refers to which of the following?

a) Two layers of phospholipids
b) Bilateral symmetry
c) Bimolecular structure
d) Binary composition

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The word 'bilayer' in 'phospholipid bilayer' refers to two layers of phospholipid molecules that make up cell membranes, with hydrophobic tails facing inward and hydrophilic heads facing outward.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term "bilayer" in "phospholipid bilayer" refers to a) Two layers of phospholipids. A phospholipid bilayer is the fundamental structure that composes the plasma membrane of cells. It is made up of two layers of phospholipid molecules. Each phospholipid molecule has a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and two hydrophobic (water-fearing) tails. In the bilayer, the hydrophobic tails of one layer face the tails of the other layer, forming a hydrophobic interior, while the hydrophilic heads face outward, towards the aqueous environment inside and outside the cell.

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