Psychrophiles favor the cold since their membranes are more fluid at low temperature owing to the high proportion of __________ present.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Unsaturated fatty acids have double bonds between carbon atoms, which creates kinks in the fatty acid chain and prevents tight packing of molecules. This results in more fluidity of the membrane at low temperatures, which is advantageous for psychrophiles living in cold environments.

Psychrophiles Favor the Cold Since Their Membranes Are More Fluid