When Biological Membranes Are Frozen and Then Fractured, They Tend

question 61

Multiple Choice

When biological membranes are frozen and then fractured, they tend to break along the middle of the bilayer. The best explanation for this is that

• A) the integral membrane proteins are not strong enough to hold the bilayer together.
• B) water that is present in the middle of the bilayer freezes and is easily fractured.
• C) hydrophilic interactions between the opposite membrane surfaces are destroyed on freezing.
• D) the carbon-carbon bonds of the phospholipid tails are easily broken.
• E) the hydrophobic interactions that hold the membrane together are weakest at this point.

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Definitions:

Functional Unit

The smallest part of an organ that can perform all of the functions of that organ.

Podocytes

Specialized cells in the kidney that form part of the filtration barrier in the glomerulus, playing a crucial role in the body's ability to filter blood and produce urine.

Glomerular Capsule

A cup-like sac at the beginning of the tubular component of a nephron in the kidney that performs the first step in the filtration of blood.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

A single layer of flat cells in contact with the basal lamina of the epithelium, known for its role in diffusion, osmosis, and filtration processes.