Which statement best describes how the cell membrane is like a window screen?

Answer 1

A cell membrane is like a window screen because of it's translucent properties. The cell allows oxygen and other necessities needed for survival to enter, but resists other invaders.

Answer 2

A cell membrane is a bilayer (double sheet) of phospholipids. These molecules have one polar end and long non-polar fatty acids on the opposite end. Large groups of them stack together in two layers, each layer facing its fatty acids towards the center of the membrane and the polar end outwards. This creates a non-polar barrier between the outside of the cell and the water on the inside of the cell, including its contents such as the nucleus and mitochondria.

The cell membrane is selectively permeable. This means that only very small molecules such as water and CO2, and non-polar molecules can pass through it. Larger molecules require special transporter mechanisms which are usually provided by transporter proteins. This gives the cell control over its contents, it can allow substances to enter or leave, retain them or keep them out, depending on what is needed.

Its selective permeability is crucial to the survival of the cell. It allows the cell to maintain osmotic balance between the inside and the outside of the cell, as well as establishing ion gradients which create a chemoelectric potential across the membrane.

Answer 3

the cell membrane decides what can and can not go through the cell.

Answer 4

It allows only nutrients to pass into and out of the cell freely

Answer 5

A cell membrane is a semi-permeable membrane. This means that some things (such as steroids) can pass through the membrane, while other things (such as ions) can't pass through.

Answer 6

controls when a substance goes in or out of a 'room'(cell) through a 'window'(cell membrane) and is where a majority of things occur(chemical reactions)