UNIT 3: The Cell

DAYSHEET 33: The Cell Membrane

Name: _______________________________

Biology I
Date: __________________

Bellringer / Catalyst:
1. What is the purpose of the object in this image? How does it work?

Colander

2. What is the purpose of the object in the image above? How does it work?

Bouncer

3. What is the purpose of the object in the image above? How does it work?

Nose Hairs

4. What do all of these objects colander, bouncer, nose hair - have in common?

Biology

Objective: I can describe the structure and function of the cell membrane
Homework: HW33 is due next class!

Activity 1: Teacher Demonstration

Problem / Question: Is a plastic bag selectively permeable?
Background Information:
Starch is a very large carbohydrate (polysaccharide) found in many plants. Plants use starch to store
energy for later.

Iodine is a very small molecule that dissolves easily in water. It is sometimes put on cuts to kill any
bacteria that might get into the cut. In science, iodine is used as an indicator for starch (an indicator
is something that changes color in the presence of a specific substance). Iodine turns purple-black in
the presence of starch.
Iodine
Water is a very small polar molecule. Water is the universal solvent, because it can dissolve a wide
variety of substances.
Water
Initial Set-up and Observations:

Initial
Observations

Prediction if Bag
is Permeable To
Everything

Prediction in Bag
is Only Permeable
to Water + Iodine

Final
Observations

Color Outside Bag

Color Inside Bag

Conclusion
Was the bag selectively permeable? How do you know? If so, what did it allow to pass / what did it not
allow to pass?

Activity 2: Cornell Notes

Biology Objective / Essential Question:

Main Ideas / Questions:

1.

Notes:
___________ cells have a cell membrane!
The cell membrane has many different names:
1) ________________________________________________
2) ________________________________________________
3) _________________________________________________

2.

The function (job) of the cell membrane is to _________________

___________________________________ (balance) by
controlling what enters and exits!
For example:
IN

STOP-AND-JOT:
Why is the cell membrane important?

3.

The cell membrane is made of 3 things:

____________________________
____________________________
____________________________

4.

The head is _______________ and

_________________________
( ________________________)
The tail is ________________ and
_________________________
( ________________________)

OUT

Main Ideas / Questions:

4.

Notes:
Label the diagram below:

5.

The phospholipid bilayer is selectively permeable. This means it

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
STOP-AND-JOT:
1. Why do the phospholipids arrange themselves in a bilayer?

2. How is the cell membrane like a bounder?

6.

Membrane proteins come in all shapes and sizes

Shade in the membrane proteins:

____________________________: moves substances across the

membrane that have a hard time getting in on their own
____________________________: allows cells to talk to one
another
____________________________: serve as I.D. cards to let other
cells know what it is

Main Ideas / Questions:

Notes:
STOP-AND-JOT:
1. Which of the membrane proteins
A or B do you think is used
for cell identification?

2. Which of the membrane proteins

A or B do you think is used
for transporting substances all
the way or out of the cell?
3. What is one thing that might
happen if your membrane
proteins were not functioning
correctly?

7.

The function of cholesterol in the membrane is to ______________

_____________________ of the membrane
Shade in the cholesterol molecules (Hint: they look like honeycombs!)

STOP-AND-JOT:
1. Why is it important for the membrane to be fluid?
2. What would happen to the membrane and your cell if cholesterol
was not working properly?

Activity 3: Time to Practice!

Directions: Label the diagram below using the following words:
Cholesterol

Phospholipid

Protein (Used 3 Times!)

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
1. List: What is the function of the cell membrane?
________________________________________________________________________________
2. List: What are three functions of proteins in the cell membrane?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. List: What is the function of cholesterol in the cell membrane?
________________________________________________________________________________

4. Identify: Label the head and tail of the phospholipid below. Label which part is polar, and which
part is nonpolar. Label which part is hydrophilic and which part is hydrophobic.

5. Which of these parts faces the outside of the cell? ___________

6. Which of these parts faces the area between the two layers of the lipid bilayer? __________
7. Which of these parts faces the inside of the cell? ___________
8. Which of these parts LIKES water? ___________
9. Which of these parts DISLIKES water? ___________
10. Explain: What does it mean for the cell membrane to be selectively permeable? What is an object
from everyday life that is selectively permeable?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
11. Predict: Suppose a cell were exposed to a drug that caused proteins in the cell membrane break
down and to stop working. How would this hurt the cells ability to maintain homeostasis?
________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
12. Predict: Suppose a cell were exposed to a drug that caused cholesterol in the cell membrane to
break down and to stop working. How would this hurt the cells ability to maintain homeostasis?
________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________