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They are said to have semi-permeable membranes.That is,they allow some substances to pass through & prevent others due to the nature & composition of that substance.

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What does it mean to say most biological membranes are selectively permeable?

It means that biological membranes allow only specific substances to pass through while blocking others. This selectivity is achieved through the presence of different types of transport proteins and lipid components in the membrane. This property is crucial for maintaining cell integrity and regulating the flow of materials in and out of the cell.


When some substances can pass across them but others cannot?

membrane


How do penetrating and non-penetrating solutes differ in their ability to cross biological membranes?

Penetrating solutes can cross biological membranes easily, while non-penetrating solutes cannot pass through the membrane without the help of specific transport mechanisms.


What are 2 characteristics of substances that do not allow them to pass through semipermeable membranes of living cells?

Large molecular size and hydrophobicity are two characteristics that prevent substances from passing through semipermeable membranes of living cells. Large molecules cannot fit through the small pores of the membrane, while hydrophobic molecules are repelled by the hydrophilic nature of the phospholipid bilayer.


What must be used to transport materials that cannot diffuse across the membrane?

Transport proteins, such as channels and carriers, must be used to transport materials that cannot diffuse across the membrane. These proteins facilitate the movement of specific substances across the cell membrane by providing a passageway or binding site for the molecules to move through.

Related Questions

What substances can pass across them but others cannot?

semi-permeable membranes


Biological membranes are said to have what When some substances can pass across them but others cannot?

Biological membranes are said to have selectively permeable properties. This means that they allow certain substances to pass through while blocking the passage of others, based on their size, charge, and solubility. This selective permeability is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and regulating the internal environment of cells.


What does it mean to say most biological membranes are selectively permeable?

It means that biological membranes allow only specific substances to pass through while blocking others. This selectivity is achieved through the presence of different types of transport proteins and lipid components in the membrane. This property is crucial for maintaining cell integrity and regulating the flow of materials in and out of the cell.


When some substances can pass across them but others cannot?

membrane


How do penetrating and non-penetrating solutes differ in their ability to cross biological membranes?

Penetrating solutes can cross biological membranes easily, while non-penetrating solutes cannot pass through the membrane without the help of specific transport mechanisms.


What substances can not be diffused?

Substances that typically cannot be diffused easily include large molecules like proteins and starches, as well as substances that do not have a concentration gradient to drive the diffusion process, such as lipid-insoluble molecules and charged particles like ions. Additionally, substances that are too polar or too hydrophobic may have difficulty diffusing across cell membranes.


What is the function of a transport protein?

Transport protein provide channels for certain solutesTransport proteins are embedded in cellular membranes. They permit the passage across the membrane of substances that cannot pass through the phospholipid bilayer.Substances may pass through transport proteins by diffusion (often called facilitated diffusion because these substances cannot pass through any other part of the membrane) or by active transport.Transport proteins are subdivided into categories, such as channel proteins and carrier proteins, depending on details of their functioning.


What two structural characteristics of cell membranes determine whether substances can pass through them passively?

Diffusion and Filtration. Diffusion is an important means of passive membrane transport for every cell of the body. The other passive transport process is filtration, generally occurs only across capillary walls.


What are 2 characteristics of substances that do not allow them to pass through semipermeable membranes of living cells?

Large molecular size and hydrophobicity are two characteristics that prevent substances from passing through semipermeable membranes of living cells. Large molecules cannot fit through the small pores of the membrane, while hydrophobic molecules are repelled by the hydrophilic nature of the phospholipid bilayer.


Can ATP passively diffuse across cell membrane?

The universal energy molecule of the cell, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) cannot passively diffuse across the cell membranes. Despite its low molecular weight, ATP carries a strong negative charge making it hydrophilic and thus unable to diffuse across the lipophilic cellular membrane.


Lipids are described as being what or water-hating?

Lipids are hydrophobic macromolecules. Literally it means "fear of water", and that water cannot easily diffuse across lipid membranes.


Is transport a function of a protein?

Transport protein provide channels for certain solutesTransport proteins are embedded in cellular membranes. They permit the passage across the membrane of substances that cannot pass through the phospholipid bilayer.Substances may pass through transport proteins by diffusion (often called facilitated diffusion because these substances cannot pass through any other part of the membrane) or by active transport.Transport proteins are subdivided into categories, such as channel proteins and carrier proteins, depending on details of their functioning.