Daily Newsletter

September 19, 2013 Membranes: Fluid and Dynamic

Today's news letter is different in that it holds three background articles from the 2004 Horizon Symposium. This Nature sponsored symposium dealt with cellular membranes. The three article are a good introduction to scientific communication, and will help you better appreciate the cell membrane.

Mind the membrane
The need for fat
Membranes and the diseases within

Daily Challenge: The Fluid Mosaic Model

Using the three articles above as references, discuss the fluid and dynamic nature of the membrane in terms of the fluid mosaic model. For example, address why it is critical that the membrane is composed of "proteins floating in a sea of lipids," and why is it important that the membrane is dynamic (ever changing?) ?