Name: Jessica J.
Status: Student
Age: 15
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: January 2004
Question:
Why is the cell membrane referred to as the fluid mosaic?
Replies:
A mosaic is mixes different components. The cell membrane is made of two
layers of lipids ( fats and oils are lipids) and embedded in this double
layer are proteins. Some of the proteins extend from one side of the
membrane to the other and function to move substances in and out of the
cell. Some proteins are used as markers on the outside of the cell to
accept incoming signals or like advertisements to the outside of the cell.
The lipids can move side to side and so can't the proteins in a "fluid" like
motion.
pf
There are proteins embedded in the membrane but aren't stuck where they are. The example
that is usually given is that they "bob around" kind of like icebergs in the ocean. So
the positions of the membranes is constantly changing making a mosaic pattern to the
membrane.
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