Lipid bilayers:A. depend on hydrophobic interactions to arrange the polar head groups together in the interior of the bilayer. B. contain fatty acids that are immobile. C. are found only in eukaryotes. D. can control the transport of small molecules and ions. E. are identical to plasma membranes.

Question

Chemistry

Yair Bruce

1 June, 10:26

Lipid bilayers:A. depend on hydrophobic interactions to arrange the polar head groups together in the interior of the bilayer. B. contain fatty acids that are immobile. C. are found only in eukaryotes. D. can control the transport of small molecules and ions. E. are identical to plasma membranes.

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Answers (1)

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Dario Macias · Answer 1

D. can control the transport of small molecules and ions.

Explanation:

Bilayers are critical components of cell membranes. The lipid bilayer acts as a barrier to the passage of molecules and ions into and out of the cell. However, an important function of the cell membrane is to allow selective passage of certain substances into and out of cells.

The lipid bilayers are highly permeable to non-polar (fat-soluble) molecules. The permeability of the bilayers to polar (water soluble) molecules is very low, and the permeability is particularly low to large polar molecules. The permeability to charged molecular species (ions) is very low.