One of Santa’s reindeer is put on disability and transferred from the North Pole

Question

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 -34oC. The average winter low temperature in San Diego is +14.1oC. (4 pts) Answer both parts of this question as completely as possible

Explanation / Answer

Answer

1. The factor affecting fluditity are
Length of the fatty acids
Degree of unsaturated fatty acid
Cholestrol percentage.

2. Unsaturated fatty acids converted to saturated fatty acids
Length of fatty acids increase so melting point will increase. It leads to decrease in the membrane fluditity
Decrease Cholestrol in membrane so it decrease interaction between hydrocarbon chain of fatty acids
and increase stability of fatty acids.

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