Biology 111 Cell Lab

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Introduction: A layer of molecules that surround the cell, separating it from the external environment is called the cell membrane (Freeman et al., 2011). The membrane selectively regulates the molecules and ions into and out of the cell (Freeman et al., 2011). This membrane must allow oxygen and nutrients like amino acids and sugars to move into the cell as well as wastes such as carbon dioxide to move out of the cell (UFV Biology Department, 2012). This selectively permeable membrane must also keep inorganic ions such as Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Chlorine constant within the cell by moving them in or out as needed (UFV Biology Department, 2012). Two main reasons the membrane of a cell is important is because first off, the chemical reactions that are necessary for life could occur efficiently in an enclosed area since reactants could collide more frequently (Freeman et al., 2011). Secondly, the membrane serves as a selective barrier where it keeps compounds that could damage the cell out and brings compounds that are needed by the cell in (Freeman et al., 2011). Cell membranes consist of two types of lipids. The ones that form membranes have a polar end and a non-polar end. Polar heads of the lipids are hydrophilic, meaning that they love interacting with water. On the other hand, the non-polar tails are hydrophobic. These are water fearing and no not like to interact with water. Phospholipids create lipid bilayers or micelles. Micelles are created when the hydrophilic heads face the water and the hydrophobic tails are forced together (Freeman et al., 2011). But, because double chain tails are too bulky to fit into the interior of the micelle, phospholipids then tend to form bilayers (Freeman et al., 2011). There is a specific way that these lipids are arranged to form a lipid bilayer. The hydrophilic heads in the layers face the solution while the
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