The Cell Membranes of Arctic Ice Fish Might Have Which

Question

The cell membranes of Arctic ice fish might have which of the following adaptations?
A)very long chain fatty acids
B)branched isoprenoid lipids
C)a high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids
D)a higher percentage of trans-fatty acids
E)no cholesterol

Accepted Answer

Arctic ice fish live in extremely cold environments, which means that the fluidity of their cell membranes is crucial to their survival. To maintain the necessary fluidity of the cell membrane at cold temperatures, the membranes of Arctic ice fish are likely to have a high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids have kinks in their structure, which prevent them from packing closely together and solidifying. This increases the fluidity of the membrane, enabling the fish to survive in extremely cold environments.