A Basic Look at the Effect of temperature on the permeability of beetroot membrane

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A Basic Look at the Effect of temperature on the

permeability of beetroot membrane

Analysis

The graph shows the colorimeter readings increase as the temperature increases, they increase by the most at higher temperatures. This is shown by a smooth curve.

This means that the beetroot samples release more dye at higher temperatures. This is because higher temperatures cause the membrane structure to break down.

The membrane structure:

Membranes have two layers of molecules called phospolipids to make up their structure. Phospholipis consist of a glycerol molecule plus two molecules of fatty and a phosphate group, this looks like a head with two legs, their head is attracted to water, this means they’re hydrophilic. The rest of the lipid (the fatty acid legs) is hydrophobic, which means they repel water. In aqueous solutions the phospolipids automatically arrange themselves into a double layer so that the hydrophobic legs are packed inside the membrane (away from the water) and the hydrophilic heads face outwards into the aqueous solutions. The molecules are represented in the ‘fluid mosaic model’ shown below (the red bits are the legs of the phospolipids):

[draw diagram here]

If it was only made from phospolipids the membrane would be a barrier to water, this is why there are other components scattered throughout the phosphlipid by-layer.

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Glycolipids are lipids which have combined with polysaccharides. These may be involved with cell recognition but their exact role is not yet known. They are found in the outer layer of cell membranes.

Glycoprotiens (seen in green on the diagram) are proteins with polysaccharides attached. They are chains of monosaccharides, which branch off to form different shapes. The shape depends on what cell they are attached to, allowing the cell to be recognised correctly.

Intrinsic proteins occur across the whole width if the protein allowing the intake of substances into the cell. Extrinsic proteins occur only in ...

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