3. One of Santa\'s reindeer is put on disability and transferred from the North

Question

3. One of Santa's reindeer is put on disability and transferred from the North Pole to the San Diego zoo. i. What factors affect the fluidity of the reindeer's cell membranes, and ii. what changes might be expected in the fatty acid components of the lipids in the lipid bilayers of the cells of the extremities in the reindeer being transferred from the North Pole to San Diego. The winter average temperature at the North Pole is -34°C. The average winter low temperature in San Diego is +14.1°C. (4 pts) Answer both parts of this question as completely as possible. i. [type answer here) ii. type answer here)

Explanation / Answer

i. Temperature: temperature changes the interactions of the elements of the membrane, for example at high temperatures the membrane is more fluid as the adjacent molecules change their interaction.

Cholesterol: it stabilizes the membrane, much more at high temperatures.

Phospholipid structure: the membrane is different depending on the lenght and saturation of the phospholipids. Shorter and unsatured lipids give more fluidity to the membrane.

Osmotic pressure in the sorrounding: increases in the osmotic pressure will also increase the fluidity of the membranes.

ii. At higher temperatures, the lipids would arrange and re arrange more so this would make the membrane more fluid.

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