What are lipid bilayers?

Q: What are lipid bilayers?


A: Lipid bilayers are a continuous sheet that forms cell membranes and surrounds most cell organelles.

Q: How do lipid bilayers form?


A: Lipid bilayers form automatically from phospholipids by self-assembly.

Q: What are the heads and tails of phospholipids?


A: Phospholipids have heads that mix with water and tails that reject water.

Q: Where are the tails and heads of phospholipids in a lipid bilayer?


A: The tails come together in the centre of the double layer, and the heads on the outside are surrounded by water.

Q: What do lipid bilayers stop from passing through?


A: Lipid bilayers stop most water-soluble (hydrophilic) molecules and ions from passing through.

Q: How are proteins put in the bilayer of a cell membrane?


A: Proteins are put in the bilayer by enzymes in cells.

Q: What do proteins in the bilayer of a cell membrane do?


A: Proteins in the bilayer of a cell membrane decide which molecules come in and which go out of the cell, such as controlling salt concentrations and pH using ion pumps.

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