Cell Structure and Function

What major technological advancement enabled detailed study of the cell membrane?

• Light microscope
• X-ray diffraction
• Electron microscope
• Phase-contrast microscope

Which of the following statements about membrane fluidity is true?

• Saturated fatty acids increase fluidity
• Cholesterol always decreases fluidity
• Unsaturated fatty acids increase membrane fluidity
• Fluidity is independent of lipid composition

Which of the following best defines transmembrane proteins?

• Peripheral proteins on the inner leaflet
• Floating proteins in the cytoplasm
• Integral proteins that span the entire membrane
• Attached to carbohydrates

The hydrophobic effect drives the formation of:

• Micelles only
• Unilamellar vesicles
• Phospholipid bilayers
• Isolated lipid monolayers

The term 'mosaic' in the fluid mosaic model refers to:

• Uniform protein distribution
• Homogeneous lipid arrangement
• Random carbohydrate placement
• The variety of proteins embedded in the membrane