Question

Refer to Animation: Fluid Mosaic Model. Although the phospholipid molecules can be in constant lateral movement, they very rarely flip from one side of the bilayer to the other. Which of the following could explain this?A. The head groups are too large to fit between the interior fatty acid tails. B. The cholesterol keeps the phospholipids on the correct side. C. The molecular attraction between the fatty acid tails is too strong. D. The head groups are repelled by the hydrophobic membrane interior.

Answer 1

Answer: option D

Explanation:

Although they can be in constant lateral motion. The lipid bilayer membrane is so organized in the sense that the hydrophilic heads which might contain some polar or molecules that can mix with water faces both the cytosol and the outer environment while the hydrophobic tails of both layers that are entirely insoluble in water faces one another thus forming a core that repels mixing. This it is very rare for the possibilities molecules to flip.