1. Phospholipids and the phospholipid bilayer

The key molecule in the membrane is a phospholipid. 

  • Like triglycerides (fats and oils), phospholipids are built around a molecule of glycerol, a 3-carbon alcohol, (shown in pink at number 2 in the diagram).
  • Attached to the glycerol on one side are two fatty acids (shown in yellow at number 3). The two fatty acids make up the molecule’s “tail.”
  • On the other side of the molecule (number 1 in the diagram) is a phosphate-bearing “head.”

 

simple phospholipid, no numbers
A phospholipid. The fatty acid tails are on the right, in orange. The phosphate-bearing head is on the left, in red

Typically, phospholipids are represented by diagrams like the one shown on the right. Whatever orientation you see this in, you should immediately be able to recognize it as a phospholipid.

In terms of how phospholipids interact with water, they have a split personality.

  • The fatty acid tails are non-polar, making them hydrophobic (water-fearing). In other words, they act as a fat or oil molecule does, avoiding water.
  • The head is polar. This makes the head hydrophilic (water-loving). In other words, the head interacts with water by forming hydrogen bonds with whatever water molecules it bumps into.

As a result, phospholipids, when mixed with water, spontaneously organize themselves into a few orientations. The one you need to understand is called a bilayer. The bilayer is a membrane that defines a sphere (which you can think of as an empty cell). If we sliced open the sphere, here’s what we’d see:

06a_circular bilayer with water

How does this work? Let’s just look at a tiny slice of the sphere.

07_slice of membrane

  1. The hydrophilic heads of the phospholipids orient themselves so that the heads are in contact with water.
  2. The hydrophobic tails cluster together. This is the same clustering that happens in a droplet of oil mixed in water. All of the tails create a hydrophobic, water-free zone.

One of the key ideas of the cell theory is that all cells come from other cells. Today, new cells are formed as a parent cell divides into two smaller daughter cells. But for understanding the origin of life, it’s important to understand that if some non-living process can create phospholipids, then these phospholipids can spontaneously organize themselves into cell-like structures. Add some genetic material, and a system for taking in energy and for cell replication (the origin of both of which requires a lot of explanation), then you have a plausible scenario for the emergence of the first cells.

We’ll learn more about the origin of life later in this course, but, for now, use these flashcards to make sure that you understand the basic structural element of membranes: the phospholipid bilayer.

2. Flashcards: The Phospholipid Bilayer

[qdeck random = “true” style=”width: 528px; border: 2px solid black; ” qrecord_id=”sciencemusicvideosMeister1961-Phospholipid Bilayer Flashcards (M8)”]

[h] Flashcards: The phospholipid bilayer

[i] If you haven’t used a set of flashcards on  Learn-Biology.com before, here’s what you need to know.

  • Click ‘Check Answer’ to see the answer to each card.
  • If you know it, click ‘Got it.”
  • If you don’t know it as well as you’d like, click ‘Need more practice,’ and that card will go to the bottom of the deck so you can practice it again.
  • ‘Shuffle’ lets you shuffle the deck.

[!] Card 4+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[/!]

[q]The molecules that make up that basic structure of the membrane are called __________.

[textentry]

[a]The molecules that make up that basic structure of the membrane are called phospholipids.

[!] Card 5+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[/!]

[q]The molecule shown below is a__________.[textentry]

[a]The molecule shown below is a phospholipid.

[!] Card 5+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[/!]

[q]The two fatty acid chains make up the phospholipid’s “_________”.[textentry]

[a]The two fatty acid chains make up the phospholipid’s “tail.”

[!] Card 6+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[/!]

[q]The phosphate containing part makes up the phospholipid’s “_________”.[textentry]

[a]The phosphate-containing part makes up the phospholipid’s “head“.

[!] Card 7+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[/!]

[q]A more scientific way to say “water-fearing” is __________.

[textentry]

[a]A more scientific way to say “water-fearing” is hydrophobic.

[!] Card 8+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[/!]

[q]A more scientific way to say “water-loving” is __________.

[textentry]

[a]A more scientific way to say “water-loving” is hydrophilic.

[!] Card 9+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[/!]

[q]Is the tail of a phospholipid hydrophobic or hydrophilic? [textentry]

[a]The tail of a phospholipid is hydrophobic.

[!] Card 10+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[/!]

[q]Is the head of a phospholipid hydrophobic or hydrophilic? [textentry]

[a]The head of a phospholipid is hydrophilic.

[!] Card 11+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[/!]

[q]Is the tail of a phospholipid polar or non-polar? [textentry]

[a]The tail of a phospholipid is non-polar.

[!] Card 12+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[/!]

[q]Is the head of a phospholipid polar or non-polar? [textentry]

[a]The head of a phospholipid is polar.

[!] Card 13+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[/!]

[q]The arrangement of phospholipids shown below is called a  phospholipid ________ [textentry]

[a]The arrangement of phospholipids shown below is called a  phospholipid bilayer.

[x]

If you want more practice, please press the restart button below. Otherwise, follow the links below.
[restart]
[/qdeck]

3. Quiz: Phospholipids

[qwiz random = “true” style = “width: 528px; border: 3px solid black; ” qrecord_id=”sciencemusicvideosMeister1961-Phospholipids Quiz (M8)”]

[h] Quiz: Phospholipids
[i] Here’s how the quiz works:

  • Each question is multiple-choice, but the entire quiz is like a series of flashcards.
  • If you get the question right, it comes off the deck.
  • If you get the question wrong, it goes to the bottom of the deck, so you can try it again.

[q] Which of the following molecules makes up the basic structure of the membrane?

[c]IHByb3RlaW4=[Qq]

[c]IGNhcmJvaHlkcmF0ZQ==[Qq]

[c]IG51Y2xlaWMgYWNpZA==[Qq]

[c]IHBob3NwaG 9saXBpZA==[Qq]

[f]IE5vLiBXaGlsZSBwcm90ZWlucyBhcmUgaW5jcmVkaWJseSBpbXBvcnRhbnQgaW4gYWxsb3dpbmcgbWVtYnJhbmVzIHRvIGNhcnJ5IG91dCB0aGVpciBmdW5jdGlvbnMsIHRoZXnigJlyZSBub3QgdGhlIGtleSA=c3RydWN0dXJhbA==IGNvbXBvbmVudC4gTmV4dCB0aW1lLCB0cnkgdG8gaWRlbnRpZnkgdGhlIG1vbGVjdWxlIHRoYXQgbWFrZXMgdXAgdGhlIG1lbWJyYW5l4oCZcyBsaXBpZCBiaWxheWVyLg==[Qq]

[f]IE5vLiBDYXJib2h5ZHJhdGVzIGFyZSBpbXBvcnRhbnQgcGFydHMgb2YgbWVtYnJhbmVzLCBwbGF5aW5nIGEga2V5IHJvbGUgaW4gZGlzcGxheWluZyBtZW1icmFuZSBtYXJrZXJzLCBIb3dldmVyLCB0aGV54oCZcmUgbm90IHRoZSBrZXkgc3RydWN0dXJhbA==IGNvbXBvbmVudC4gTmV4dCB0aW1lLCB0cnkgdG8gaWRlbnRpZnkgdGhlIG1vbGVjdWxlIHRoYXQgbWFrZXMgdXAgdGhlIG1lbWJyYW5l4oCZcyBsaXBpZCBiaWxheWVyLg==[Qq]

[f]IE5vLiBOdWNsZWljIGFjaWRzIGFyZSBjb25uZWN0ZWQgd2l0aCBoZXJlZGl0eSBhbmQgY2VsbHVsYXIgY29udHJvbCwgYnV0IHRoZXnigJlyZSBub3QgYSBrZXkgcGFydCBvZiBjZWxsIG1lbWJyYW5lcy4gTmV4dCB0aW1lLCB0cnkgdG8gaWRlbnRpZnkgdGhlIG1vbGVjdWxlIHRoYXQgbWFrZXMgdXAgdGhlIG1lbWJyYW5l4oCZcyBsaXBpZCBiaWxheWVyLg==[Qq]

[f]IEV4YWN0bHkuIFBob3NwaG9saXBpZHMgZm9ybSB0aGUgbGlwaWQgYmlsYXllciwgd2hpY2ggaXMgdGhlIGtleSBzdHJ1Y3R1cmFsIGVsZW1lbnQgb2YgY2VsbCBtZW1icmFuZXMu

Cg==

[Qq]

[q] The molecule shown below is a _____________?

[c]cHJvdGVpbg==[Qq]

[c]cGhvc3Bo b2xpcGlk[Qq]

[c]Y2FyYm9oeWRyYXRl[Qq]

[c]bnVjbGVpYyBhY2lk[Qq]

[f]IE5vLiBQcm90ZWlucyBhcmUgcG9seW1lcnMgb2YgYW1pbm8gYWNpZHMuIEluIHRoZSBtb2xlY3VsZSBhYm92ZSwgeW91IGNhbiBzZWUgZmF0dHkgYWNpZHMgb24gdGhlIHJpZ2h0IHNpZGUsIGdseWNlcm9sIGluIHRoZSBjZW50ZXIsIGFuZCBhIHBob3NwaGF0ZS1iZWFyaW5nICYjODIyMDtoZWFkJiM4MjIxOyBvbiB0aGUgbGVmdC4gV2hpY2ggbW9sZWN1bGUgZml0cyB0aGF0IGRlc2NyaXB0aW9uPw==[Qq]

[f]IEV4Y2VsbGVudC4gVGhlIG1vbGVjdWxlIGFib3ZlIGlzIGEgcGhvc3Bob2xpcGlkLg==[Qq]

[f]IE5vLiBDYXJib2h5ZHJhdGVzIGFyZSBwb2x5bWVycyBvciBtb25vbWVycyBvZiBtb25vc2FjY2hhcmlkZXMuIEluIHRoZSBtb2xlY3VsZSBhYm92ZSwgeW91IGNhbiBzZWUgZmF0dHkgYWNpZHMgb24gdGhlIHJpZ2h0IHNpZGUsIGdseWNlcm9sIGluIHRoZSBjZW50ZXIsIGFuZCBhIHBob3NwaGF0ZS1iZWFyaW5nICYjODIyMDtoZWFkJiM4MjIxOyBvbiB0aGUgbGVmdC4gV2hpY2ggbW9sZWN1bGUgZml0cyB0aGF0IGRlc2NyaXB0aW9uPw==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIE51Y2xlaWMgYWNpZHMgYXJlIHBvbHltZXJzIG9mIG51Y2xlb3RpZGVzLiBJbiB0aGUgbW9sZWN1bGUgYWJvdmUsIHlvdSBjYW4gc2VlIGZhdHR5IGFjaWRzIG9uIHRoZSByaWdodCBzaWRlLCBnbHljZXJvbCBpbiB0aGUgY2VudGVyLCBhbmQgYSBwaG9zcGhhdGUtYmVhcmluZyAmIzgyMjA7aGVhZCYjODIyMTsgb24gdGhlIGxlZnQuIFdoaWNoIG1vbGVjdWxlIGZpdHMgdGhhdCBkZXNjcmlwdGlvbj8=

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]In the diagram of a phospholipid shown below, which shaded area is covering the fatty acids?

[c]MQ==[Qq]

[c]Mg==[Qq]

[c]Mw ==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIE51bWJlciAxIGlzIGNvdmVyaW5nIHRoZSBpb25pY2FsbHkgY2hhcmdlZMKgJiM4MjIwO2hlYWQmIzgyMjE7IG9mIHRoZSBwaG9zcGhvbGlwaWQgbW9sZWN1bGUuIFRoZSBmYXR0eSBhY2lkcyBhcmUgdGhlIGxvbmcgaHlkcm9jYXJib24gY2hhaW5zLg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIE51bWJlciAyIGlzIGNvdmVyaW5nIHRoZSBnbHljZXJvbC7CoFRoZSBmYXR0eSBhY2lkcyBhcmUgdGhlIGxvbmcgaHlkcm9jYXJib24gY2hhaW5zLg==[Qq]

[f]WWVzLiBOdW1iZXIgMyBpcyBjb3ZlcmluZyB0aGUgZmF0dHkgYWNpZHMsIGlkZW50aWZpZWQgYnkgdGhlaXIgbG9uZyBoeWRyb2NhcmJvbiBjaGFpbnMu

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]In the diagram of a phospholipid shown below, which shaded area is covering the molecule’s polar “head.”

[c]MQ ==[Qq]

[c]Mg==[Qq]

[c]Mw==[Qq]

[f]WWVzLiBOdW1iZXIgMSBpcyBjb3ZlcmluZyB0aGUgaW9uaWNhbGx5IGNoYXJnZWTCoCYjODIyMDtoZWFkJiM4MjIxOyBvZiB0aGUgcGhvc3Bob2xpcGlkIG1vbGVjdWxlLsKgVGhlIGNoYXJnZWQgbW9sZWN1bGFyIHBpZWNlcyBpbsKgdGhpcyByZWdpb27CoG1ha2UgaXQgcG9sYXIgKGFzIG9wcG9zZWQgdG8gdGhlIHJlc3Qgb2YgdGhlIG1vbGVjdWxlKS4=[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIE51bWJlciAyIGlzIGNvdmVyaW5nIHRoZSBnbHljZXJvbC7CoFRoZSBwb2xhciBoZWFkIGNhbiBiZSBpZGVudGlmaWVkIGJ5IHRoZSBpb25pYyBjaGFyZ2VzwqBmb3VuZCBpbiB0aGlzIHJlZ2lvbi4=[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIE51bWJlciAzIGlzIGNvdmVyaW5nIHRoZSBmYXR0eSBhY2lkcy7CoFRoZSBwb2xhciBoZWFkIGNhbiBiZSBpZGVudGlmaWVkIGJ5IHRoZSBpb25pYyBjaGFyZ2VzwqBmb3VuZCBpbiB0aGlzIHJlZ2lvbi4=

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]In the diagram of a phospholipid shown below, which shaded area is covering the glycerol?

[c]MQ==[Qq]

[c]Mg ==[Qq]

[c]Mw==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIE51bWJlciAxIGlzIGNvdmVyaW5nIHRoZSBpb25pY2FsbHkgY2hhcmdlZCAmIzgyMjA7aGVhZCYjODIyMTsgb2YgdGhlIHBob3NwaG9saXBpZCBtb2xlY3VsZS4gR2x5Y2Vyb2wgaXMgYSAzLWNhcmJvbiBhbGNvaG9sLiBXaGVyZSBkbyB5b3Ugc2VlIGEgMyBjYXJib24gdW5pdD8=[Qq]

[f]WWVzLiBOdW1iZXIgMiBpcyBjb3ZlcmluZyB0aGUgZ2x5Y2Vyb2wu[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIE51bWJlciAzIGlzIGNvdmVyaW5nIHRoZSBmYXR0eSBhY2lkcy4gR2x5Y2Vyb2wgaXMgYSAzLWNhcmJvbiBhbGNvaG9sLiBXaGVyZSBkbyB5b3Ugc2VlIGEgMyBjYXJib24gdW5pdD8=

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]In the diagram of a phospholipid shown below, which shaded area is covering a hydrophobic portion of the molecule?

[c]MQ==[Qq]

[c]Mg==[Qq]

[c]Mw ==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIE51bWJlciAxIGlzIGNvdmVyaW5nIHRoZSBpb25pY2FsbHkgY2hhcmdlZMKgJiM4MjIwO2hlYWQmIzgyMjE7IG9mIHRoZSBwaG9zcGhvbGlwaWQgbW9sZWN1bGUuwqBUaGUgY2hhcmdlZCBpb25zwqBpbiB0aGlzIHBhcnQgb2YgdGhlIG1vbGVjdWxlIG1ha2UgaXQgcG9sYXIuIEJlY2F1c2UgcG9sYXIgbW9sZWN1bGVzIGludGVyYWN0IHdpdGggd2F0ZXIgKHdoaWNoIGlzIGFsc28gcG9sYXIpLCB0aGF0IGFsc28gbWFrZXMgcmVnaW9uIDEgaHlkcm9waGlsaWM=Lg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIE51bWJlciAyIGlzIGNvdmVyaW5nIHRoZSBnbHljZXJvbC7CoFRoaXMgMy1jYXJib24gdW5pdCBzZXJ2ZXMgYXMgdGhlIGNlbnRyYWwgZnJhbWV3b3JrIHRoYXQgaG9sZHMgdGhlIHJlc3Qgb2YgdGhlIG1vbGVjdWxlIHRvZ2V0aGVyLiBTZWUgaWYgeW91IGNhbiBmaW5kIGEgcGFydCBvZiB0aGlzIG1vbGVjdWxlIHRoYXQgaXMgdHJ1bHkgaHlkcm9waG9iaWMgKHdhdGVyLWZlYXJpbmcpIGJlY2F1c2Ugb2YgaXRzIGNoZW1pY2FsIHN0cnVjdHVyZS4=[Qq]

[f]WWVzLiBOdW1iZXIgMyBpcyBjb3ZlcmluZyB0aGUgZmF0dHkgYWNpZHMuwqBUaGUgbG9uZyBoeWRyb2NhcmJvbiBjaGFpbnMgKGNoYWlucyBvZiBjYXJib24gYXRvbXMgd2l0aCBoeWRyb2dlbnMgYXR0YWNoZWQpwqBtYWtlIHRoaXMgcmVnaW9uIG9mIHRoZSBtb2xlY3VsZSBub24tcG9sYXIuIEJlY2F1c2Ugbm9uLXBvbGFyIG1vbGVjdWxlcyBkb24mIzgyMTc7dCBpbnRlcmFjdCB3aXRoIHdhdGVyLCB0aGF0IGFsc28gbWFrZXMgdGhpcyByZWdpb24gaHlkcm9waG9iaWM=Lg==

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]In the diagram of a phospholipid shown below, which shaded area is covering a hydrophilic portion of the molecule?

[c]MQ ==[Qq]

[c]Mg==[Qq]

[c]Mw==[Qq]

[f]WWVzLiBOdW1iZXIgMSBpcyBjb3ZlcmluZyB0aGUgaW9uaWNhbGx5IGNoYXJnZWTCoCYjODIyMDtoZWFkJiM4MjIxOyBvZiB0aGUgcGhvc3Bob2xpcGlkIG1vbGVjdWxlLsKgVGhlIGNoYXJnZWQgaW9uc8KgaW4gdGhpcyBwYXJ0IG9mIHRoZSBtb2xlY3VsZSBtYWtlIGl0IHBvbGFyLiBCZWNhdXNlIHBvbGFyIG1vbGVjdWxlcyBpbnRlcmFjdCB3aXRoIHdhdGVyICh3aGljaCBpcyBhbHNvIHBvbGFyKSwgdGhhdCBhbHNvIG1ha2VzIHJlZ2lvbiAxIA==aHlkcm9waGlsaWM=Lg==[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIE51bWJlciAyIGlzIGNvdmVyaW5nIHRoZSBnbHljZXJvbC7CoFRoaXMgMy1jYXJib24gdW5pdCBzZXJ2ZXMgYXMgdGhlIGNlbnRyYWwgZnJhbWV3b3JrIHRoYXQgaG9sZHMgdGhlIHJlc3Qgb2YgdGhlIG1vbGVjdWxlIHRvZ2V0aGVyLiBTZWUgaWYgeW91IGNhbiBmaW5kIGEgcGFydCBvZiB0aGlzIG1vbGVjdWxlIHRoYXQgaXMgdHJ1bHkgaHlkcm9waGlsaWPCoCh3YXRlci1sb3ZpbmcpIGJlY2F1c2Ugb2YgaXRzIGNoZW1pY2FsIHN0cnVjdHVyZS4=[Qq]

[f]Tm8uIE51bWJlciAzIGlzIGNvdmVyaW5nIHRoZSBmYXR0eSBhY2lkcy7CoFRoZSBsb25nIGh5ZHJvY2FyYm9uIGNoYWlucyAoY2hhaW5zIG9mIGNhcmJvbiBhdG9tcyB3aXRoIGh5ZHJvZ2VucyBhdHRhY2hlZCnCoG1ha2UgdGhpcyByZWdpb24gb2YgdGhlIG1vbGVjdWxlIG5vbi1wb2xhci4gQmVjYXVzZSBub24tcG9sYXIgbW9sZWN1bGVzIGRvbiYjODIxNzt0IGludGVyYWN0IHdpdGggd2F0ZXIsIHRoYXQgYWxzbyBtYWtlcyB0aGlzIHJlZ2lvbiA=aHlkcm9waG9iaWM=LsKgU2VlIGlmIHlvdSBjYW4gZmluZCBhIHBhcnQgb2YgdGhpcyBtb2xlY3VsZSB0aGF0IGlzIHRydWx5IGh5ZHJvcGhpbGljwqAod2F0ZXItbG92aW5nKSBiZWNhdXNlIG9mIGl0cyBjaGVtaWNhbCBzdHJ1Y3R1cmUu

Cg==

[Qq]

[q labels = “top”]Drag the terms below onto the appropriate places on the phospholipid molecule below.

 

[l]hydrophobic

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]hydrophilic

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[q labels = “top”]Drag the terms below onto the appropriate places on the phospholipid molecule below.

 

[l]non-polar

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]polar

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[q labels = “top”]Drag the terms below onto the appropriate places on the phospholipid molecule.

[l]hydrophobic

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]hydrophilic

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[q labels = “top”]Drag the terms below onto the appropriate places on the phospholipid molecule below.

 

[l]polar

[fx] No, that’s not correct.  Please try again.

[f*] Great!

[l]non-polar

[fx] No.  Please try again.

[f*] Correct!

[q] Which of the following best describes how phospholipids arrange themselves in the cell membrane?

[c]IFRoZSBwaG9zcGhvbGlwaWRzIGZvcm0gYSBiaWxheWVyIHdoZXJlIHRoZSBoeWRyb3BoaWxpYyBoZWFkcyBmYWNlIG91dHdhcmQgdG93YXJkIHRoZSB3YXRlcnkgZXh0 ZXJpb3Igb3IgdGhlIHdhdGVyeSBjeXRvcGxhc20sIGFuZCB0aGUgaHlkcm9waG9iaWMgdGFpbHMgY2x1c3RlciB0b2dldGhlciBpbiBhIHdhdGVyLWZyZWUgem9uZS4=[Qq]

[c]IFRoZSBwaG9zcGhvbGlwaWRzIGZvcm0gYSBiaWxheWVyIHdoZXJlIHRoZSBoeWRyb3Bob2JpYyBoZWFkcyBmb3JtIGh5ZHJvZ2VuIGJvbmRzIHdpdGggb25lIGFub3RoZXIgb24gYW4gaW5uZXIgbGF5ZXIsIHdpdGggdGhlIGh5ZHJvcGhvYmljIHRhaWxzIGZhY2luZyBvdXR3YXJkIHRvd2FyZCB0aGUgY2VsbOKAmXMgd2F0ZXJ5IGV4dGVyaW9yLCBvciB0aGUgd2F0ZXJ5IGN5dG9wbGFzbWljIGludGVyaW9yLg==[Qq]

[c]IEludGVybG9ja2luZyBib25kcyBmb3JtIGJldHdlZW4gdGhlIGh5ZHJvcGhvYmljIGhlYWRzIGFuZCB0aGUgaHlkcm9waGlsaWMgdGFpbHMuIFRoaXMgaXMgcmVwZWF0ZWQgb24gdGhlIGluc2lkZSBhbmQgb3V0c2lkZSBvZiB0aGUgbWVtYnJhbmUsIGVuYWJsaW5nIGl0IHRvIGZvcm0gYSBkb3VibGUgbGF5ZXIu[Qq]

[c]IFRoZSBwaG9zcGhvbGlwaWRzIGZvcm0gYSBiaWxheWVyIHdpdGggdGhlIGh5ZHJvcGhvYmljIGhlYWRzIGZhY2luZyBvdXQgYW5kIGludGVyYWN0aW5nIHdpdGggdGhlIHdhdGVyeSBjZWxsIGV4dGVyaW9yIG9yIHRoZSB3YXRlcnkgY3l0b3BsYXNtLCB3aGlsZSB0aGUgaHlkcm9waGlsaWMgdGFpbHMgZm9ybSBhbiBpbm5lciBsYXllci4=[Qq]

[f]IFRoYXTigJlzIGV4YWN0bHkgcmlnaHQuIEp1c3QgcmVtZW1iZXIg4oCYaGVhZHMgb3V0LOKAmSDigJh0YWlscyBpbizigJkgYW5kIHlvdeKAmWxsIHVuZGVyc3RhbmQgdGhlIHN0cnVjdHVyZSBvZiB0aGUgbWVtYnJhbmXigJlzIHBob3NwaG9saXBpZCBiaWxheWVyLg==

Cg==

[Qq]

[f]IFRoYXTigJlzIG5vdCByaWdodC4gVGhlIGtleSB0aGluZyB0byByZW1lbWJlciBhYm91dCB0aGUgbWVtYnJhbmXigJlzIHN0cnVjdHVyZSBpcyB0aGF0IGl04oCZcyBidWlsdCBhcm91bmQgYSBwaG9zcGhvbGlwaWQgYmlsYXllci4gUGhvc3Bob2xpcGlkIG1vbGVjdWxlcyBhcnJhbmdlIHRoZW1zZWx2ZXMgaW50byBhIGJpbGF5ZXIgaW4gd2hpY2ggdGhlIHBob3NwaG9saXBpZHPigJkgaHlkcm9waG9iaWMgdGFpbHMgYXJlIGZhY2luZyBpbndhcmQsIGNyZWF0aW5nIGEgd2F0ZXItZnJlZSB6b25lLCBhbmQgdGhlIGh5ZHJvcGhpbGljIGhlYWRzIGFyZSBmYWNpbmcgb3V0d2FyZHMu[Qq]

[f]IFRoYXTigJlzIG5vdCByaWdodC4gVGhlIGtleSB0aGluZyB0byByZW1lbWJlciBhYm91dCB0aGUgbWVtYnJhbmXigJlzIHN0cnVjdHVyZSBpcyB0aGF0IGl04oCZcyBidWlsdCBhcm91bmQgYSBwaG9zcGhvbGlwaWQgYmlsYXllci4gUGhvc3Bob2xpcGlkIG1vbGVjdWxlcyBhcnJhbmdlIHRoZW1zZWx2ZXMgaW50byBhIGJpbGF5ZXIgaW4gd2hpY2ggdGhlIHBob3NwaG9saXBpZHPigJkgaHlkcm9waG9iaWMgdGFpbHMgYXJlIGZhY2luZyBpbndhcmQsIGNyZWF0aW5nIGEgd2F0ZXItZnJlZSB6b25lLCBhbmQgdGhlIGh5ZHJvcGhpbGljIGhlYWRzIGFyZSBmYWNpbmcgb3V0d2FyZHMu[Qq]

[f]IE5vLCBidXQgeW914oCZcmUgY2xvc2UuIEFzIHlvdSBzZWVtIHRvIHVuZGVyc3RhbmQsIHRoZSBwaG9zcGhvbGlwaWRzIGRvIGZvcm0gYSBiaWxheWVyLiBCdXQgdGhlaXIgYXJyYW5nZW1lbnQgaXMgZGlmZmVyZW50IGZyb20gd2hhdCB5b3UgY2hvc2UuIEluIHRoZSBiaWxheWVyLCB0aGUgcGhvc3Bob2xpcGlkc+KAmSBoeWRyb3Bob2JpYyB0YWlscyBhcmUgZmFjaW5nIGlud2FyZCwgY3JlYXRpbmcgYSB3YXRlci1mcmVlIHpvbmUsIGFuZCB0aGUgaHlkcm9waGlsaWMgaGVhZHMgYXJlIGZhY2luZyBvdXR3YXJkcy4=

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]The molecules that make up that basic structure of the membrane are called __________.

[hangman]

[c]cGhvc3Bob2xpcGlkcw==[Qq]

[f]WWVzIcKgVGhlIG1vbGVjdWxlcyB0aGF0IG1ha2UgdXAgdGhhdCBiYXNpYyBzdHJ1Y3R1cmUgb2YgdGhlIG1lbWJyYW5lIGFyZSBjYWxsZWTCoA==cGhvc3Bob2xpcGlkcy4=

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]The molecule shown below is a__________.

[hangman]

[c]cGhvc3Bob2xpcGlk[Qq]

[f]UGVyZmVjdCHCoFRoZSBtb2xlY3VsZSBzaG93biBiZWxvdyBpcyBhIA==cGhvc3Bob2xpcGlkLg==

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]The two fatty acid chains make up the phospholipid’s “_________”.

[hangman]

[c]dGFpbA==[Qq]

[f]WWVzISBUaGUgdHdvIGZhdHR5IGFjaWQgY2hhaW5zIG1ha2UgdXAgdGhlIHBob3NwaG9saXBpZCYjODIxNztzICYjODIyMDt0YWlsLiYjODIyMTs=

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]The phosphate containing part makes up the phospholipid’s “_________”.

[hangman]

[c]aGVhZA==

Cg==

[Qq]

[f]UGVyZmVjdCEgVGhlIHBob3NwaGF0ZS1jb250YWluaW5nIHBhcnQgbWFrZXMgdXAgdGhlIHBob3NwaG9saXBpZCYjODIxNztzICYjODIyMDs=aGVhZA==JiM4MjIwOy4=

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]A more scientific way to say “water-fearing” is __________.

[hangman]

[c]aHlkcm9waG9iaWM=[Qq]

[f]UGVyZmVjdCEgQSBtb3JlIHNjaWVudGlmaWMgd2F5IHRvIHNheSAmIzgyMjA7d2F0ZXItZmVhcmluZyYjODIyMTsgaXMgaHlkcm9waG9iaWM=Lg==

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]A more scientific way to say “water-loving” is __________.

[hangman]

[c]aHlkcm9waGlsaWM=[Qq]

[f]WWVzISBBIG1vcmUgc2NpZW50aWZpYyB3YXkgdG8gc2F5ICYjODIyMDt3YXRlci1mZWFyaW5nJiM4MjIxOyBpcyA=aHlkcm9waGlsaWM=Lg==

Cg==

[Qq]

[q]Is the tail of a phospholipid hydrophobic or hydrophilic?

[hangman]

[c]aHlkcm9waG9iaWM=[Qq]

[f]Q29ycmVjdCEgVGhlIHRhaWwgb2YgYSBwaG9zcGhvbGlwaWQgaXMgaHlkcm9waG9iaWM=Lg==

Cg==

Jm5ic3A7

[Qq]

 

[q]The arrangement of phospholipids shown below is called a  phospholipid ________

[hangman]

[c]YmlsYXllcg==[Qq]

[f]RmFudGFzdGljISBUaGUgYXJyYW5nZW1lbnQgb2YgcGhvc3Bob2xpcGlkcyBzaG93biBiZWxvdyBpcyBjYWxsZWQgYSDCoHBob3NwaG9saXBpZCA=YmlsYXllcg==Lg==

Cg==

[Qq]

[x]

[restart]

[/qwiz]

Links

Depending on where you came from…

  1. Continue on to Cell Membrane Structure (the next tutorial in this series about cell membranes)
  2. Return to Lipids (in Biochemistry)
  3. Watch my Membranes!  music video