A recently identified species of eukaryote is able to survive at extremely high
ID: 278642 • Letter: A
Question
A recently identified species of eukaryote is able to survive at extremely high temperatures. If a group of scientists were able to analyze the composition of the cell membrane of such a species, what would they expect to observe?
A. High levels of cholesterol-like molecules and high levels of unsaturated fatty acids.
B. High levels of cholesterol-like molecules and low levels of unsaturated fatty acids.
C. Low levels of cholesterol-like molecules and high levels of unsaturated fatty acids.
D. Low levels of cholesterol-like molecules and low levels of unsaturated fatty acids.
Explanation / Answer
The answer is A. High levels of cholesterol-like molecules and high levels of unsaturated fatty acids.
Because in the cell membranes the cholesterol acts as bidirectional regulator. At high temperatures the high level presence of chlorestrol raises its melting point and it stabilizes the membrane. Where as the unsturated fatty acids have more double or triple bonds these bonds alos raises the melting point, so, these also helps in stabilizes the membrane.