Question 1

Which of the following best describes the fluid mosaic model of the plasma membrane?

Accepted Answer

A bilayer of phospholipids with proteins either crossing the layers or on the surface, where both phospholipids and proteins move laterally within the membrane.

Question 2

Which type of membrane protein is most likely to contain a stretch of hydrophobic amino acids such as valine within its structure?

Accepted Answer

Integral transmembrane protein

Question 3

A cell is placed in a hypotonic solution. What will happen to an animal cell in this environment?

Accepted Answer

It will gain water and may lyse.

Question 4

Which of the following processes includes all others?

Accepted Answer

Passive transport

Question 5

Which statement about membrane fluidity is correct?

Accepted Answer

Membranes rich in unsaturated fatty acids are more fluid than those rich in saturated fatty acids.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a function of membrane proteins?

Accepted Answer

Energy storage

Question 7

A plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution. What is the expected outcome?

Accepted Answer

The cell will lose water and become plasmolyzed.

Question 8

Which equation best describes the movement of molecules during diffusion?

Accepted Answer

$$J = -D \frac{dC}{dx}$$

Question 9

Which of the following statements about osmosis is correct?

Accepted Answer

Water moves from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

Question 10

Which of the following is a real-world example of a disease caused by defective membrane proteins?

Accepted Answer

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

Question 11

Which of the following transport mechanisms requires energy input from the cell?

Accepted Answer

Active transport

Question 12

Which type of transport protein is responsible for allowing water to cross the plasma membrane rapidly?

Accepted Answer

Aquaporin

Question 13

A marine algal cell is suddenly transferred from seawater to freshwater. What will happen initially?

Accepted Answer

It will absorb water and increase in volume.

Question 14

Which of the following best explains why the plasma membrane is described as 'selectively permeable'?

Accepted Answer

It allows some substances to cross more easily than others.

Question 15

Which of the following is a function of membrane carbohydrates?

Accepted Answer

Cell-cell recognition

Question 16

Which of the following is true regarding the sodium-potassium pump?

Accepted Answer

It moves sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions into the cell against their concentration gradients.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about cholesterol in the plasma membrane is correct?

Accepted Answer

Cholesterol increases membrane fluidity at low temperatures and decreases it at high temperatures.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of bulk transport into the cell?

Accepted Answer

Endocytosis

Question 19

Which of the following statements about cotransport is correct?

Accepted Answer

Active transport of one solute indirectly drives the transport of another solute.

Question 20

Which of the following would most likely be present in the transmembrane region of an integral membrane protein?

Accepted Answer

A hydrophobic amino acid like valine

Membrane Structure and Function: Study Notes for Introductory Biology

Study Guide - Practice Questions

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