Lipids: Fatty Acid Unsaturation, Phospholipid Architecture, and Membrane Function
Students will investigate the diverse group of lipids, focusing on their roles in energy storage, insulation, and the formation of cell membranes.
Key Questions
- Explain how the degree of fatty acid unsaturation affects the packing of phospholipid tails and membrane fluidity, and predict the adaptive changes in membrane lipid composition expected in organisms acclimating to cold environments.
- Compare the molecular architecture of a triacylglycerol and a phospholipid, explaining why their contrasting hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties determine their respective biological roles as energy stores versus structural membrane components.
- Evaluate the biochemical basis for the higher energy yield of lipids compared to carbohydrates per gram, referencing the mean oxidation state of carbon atoms and the greater proportion of C-H bonds available for oxidation.
MOE Syllabus Outcomes
Suggested Methodologies
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