In very warm environments some organisms have no control ove

In very warm environments, some organisms have no control over their body temperature. Which molecule will be most likely part of their cell membrane?

A. Carbohydrate B. Saturated fatty acid

C. Unsaturated fatty acid D. Hydrocarbon

Solution

Option B
Composition of lipids determines the membrane fluidity. Presence of higher amount of unsaturted fatty acids maitain the membrane in fluid conditions even at the extremes of the temperatures. Since higher temperature tends to increase the membrane fluidity, these animals have higher content of saturated fatty acids in their cell membrane to ensure the tight packaging of saturated hydrocarbon tails and thereby not to make the membrane very fluid at the higher temperatures.