Imagine a new type of cell was discovered on Mars in an organism growing in benz
ID: 38679 • Letter: I
Question
Imagine a new type of cell was discovered on Mars in an organism growing in benzene, a nonpolar liquid. The cell had a lipid bilayer made of phospholipids, but its structure was very different from that of our cell membranes.
Imagine a new type of cell was discovered on Mars in an organism growing in benzene, a nonpolar liquid. The cell had a lipid bilayer made of phospholipids, but its structure was very different from that of our cell membranes. Describe what might be a possible structure for this new type of membranExplanation / Answer
From the given data,
Head groups in phospholipids are hydrophilic, and hence they have the tendency to interact with the hydrophilic extracellular environment. But, in the given case, the organism is living in benzene, a non-polar liquid. In order to live in such condition, the organism must contain phospholipids whose head groups should be hydrophobic.
Thus, the correct option is (b) this membrane would have the nonpolar groups on the two surfaces facing the nonpolar solvent, and it would have a hydrophilic interior.