LIFE: THE SCIENCE OF BIOLOGY
LIFE: THE SCIENCE OF BIOLOGY
11th Edition
ISBN: 9781319145125
Author: Sadava
Publisher: MAC HIGHER
bartleby

Concept explainers

bartleby

Videos

Question
Book Icon
Chapter 6, Problem 1Q
Summary Introduction

To analyze:

The inference that can be deciphered from the graph showing the relative fluidity of cell membranes in different species and whether the trend shown is apparent.

Given:

Researchers conducted an experiment to comparatively study the fluidity and composition of cell membranes. They maintained arctic sculpin at 0°C, a group of goldfish at 5°C, other group of goldfish at 25°C. They also maintained the desert pupfish at 34°C, and rats at normal temperature of 21°C. After keeping them for several days, the neuronal cells of all the animals were taken and membranes were isolated.

A fluorescent molecule was added to each of the extracted membranes and kept for some time at 20°C. Researchers then measured fluorescence and a graph was plotted by them. The graph depicted fluorescence against the body temperature of each of the animals.

The following graph shows the fluorescence of each animal depicted as colorful points at different temperatures. The more the value of fluorescence, the less will be the movement of molecules depicting a less fluid membrane.

LIFE: THE SCIENCE OF BIOLOGY, Chapter 6, Problem 1Q , additional homework tip  1

The following table was drawn by the researchers showing the ratio of saturated-to-unsaturated fatty acids in the phospholipid phosphatidyl choline for different animals taken into consideration.

LIFE: THE SCIENCE OF BIOLOGY, Chapter 6, Problem 1Q , additional homework tip  2

Introduction:

The membrane is fluid in nature and is responsible for the transport of various molecules in and outside the cell. The fluidity of the membrane depends on the temperature and unsaturation. The low temperature leads to increase in fluidity to cope up the temperature. The saturated fatty acids are those fatty acids which do not have any double bond and have no scope of addition of any molecule. They can only substitute the molecules. The unsaturated fatty acids are those which have one or more double or triple bonds that increase the fluidity of the membrane. The species that survive in lower temperature have more amounts of unsaturated fatty acids so that they can avoid being frozen and remain fluid for transportation of the molecules.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

The data in the graph shows the value of fluorescence in different species at different temperature. It was observed that when the temperature of the animal’s body is low as in the case of arctic sculpin, the value of fluorescence is also low. There is an inverse relation between the movement of molecules and value of fluorescence. The low fluorescence depicts the high movement of molecules in the artic sculpin showing that the membrane has greater fluidity. The greater fluidity of the membrane helps these organisms to withstand such low temperature. In contrast, the fluidity of membranes of rats is low as the fluorescence value shown in the graph is high. This indicates that fluidity of membrane is not as high as in the species of low temperature.

The data of membrane fluidity depends on the temperature of the animal and is apparent as the fluidity of the membrane will change according to the change in the temperature.

Conclusion

Thus, it was concluded that the post translational modifications are important for the proper protein functioning and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of the protein decides whether the modification should occur or not. The trend shown in the graph is apparent.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
You aim to test the hypothesis that the Tbx4 and Tbx5 genes inhibit each other's expression during limb development. With access to chicken embryos and viruses capable of overexpressing Tbx4 and Tbx5, describe an experiment to investigate whether these genes suppress each other's expression in the limb buds. What results would you expect if they do repress each other? What results would you expect if they do not repress each other?
You decide to delete Fgf4 and Fgf8 specifically in the limb bud. Explain why you would not knock out these genes in the entire embryo instead.
You implant an FGF10-coated bead into the anterior flank of a chicken embryo, directly below the level of the wing bud. What is the phenotype of the resulting ectopic limb?  Briefly describe the expected expression domains of 1) Shh, 2) Tbx4, and 3) Tbx5 in the resulting ectopic limb bud.
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Biology
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Biology (MindTap Course List)
Biology
ISBN:9781337392938
Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. Berg
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Concepts of Biology
Biology
ISBN:9781938168116
Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise
Publisher:OpenStax College
Text book image
Principles Of Radiographic Imaging: An Art And A ...
Health & Nutrition
ISBN:9781337711067
Author:Richard R. Carlton, Arlene M. Adler, Vesna Balac
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Human Biology (MindTap Course List)
Biology
ISBN:9781305112100
Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillan
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems (MindTap ...
Biology
ISBN:9781285866932
Author:Lauralee Sherwood
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Biology 2e
Biology
ISBN:9781947172517
Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark
Publisher:OpenStax
The Cell Membrane; Author: The Organic Chemistry Tutor;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsffT7XIXbA;License: Standard youtube license