Temperature has an effect on the fluidity of plasma membranes.Some organisms are able to maintain their membranes' fluidity when it is extremely cold by
A) replacing saturated fatty acids with unsaturated fatty acids.
B) closing protein channels.
C) increasing the number of transmembrane protein channels.
D) increasing the number of cholesterol molecules present.
E) using fatty acids with longer tails.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By replacing saturated fatty acids with unsaturated fatty acids, the plasma membrane becomes more fluid at low temperatures. Unsaturated fatty acids have kinks in their tails that prevent them from packing tightly together, which keeps the membrane more fluid.

Temperature Has an Effect on the Fluidity of Plasma Membranes