[Campbell Biology P.177] How do unsaturated hydrocarbon tails contribute to the fluidity of ... | Practice Question

How do unsaturated hydrocarbon tails contribute to the fluidity of a cell membrane compared to saturated tails?

  • A: They pack together more tightly due to kinks, increasing viscosity.
  • B: They have double bonds that cause kinks, preventing tight packing and enhancing fluidity.
  • C: They increase membrane viscosity by forming stronger hydrophobic interactions.
  • D: They are longer than saturated tails, which reduces fluidity.

Explanation

Unsaturated hydrocarbon tails contain double bonds that cause kinks in their structure. These kinks prevent the phospholipid molecules from packing together as closely as saturated hydrocarbon tails which are straight , thereby enhancing the fluidity of the membrane.