The Fluid Mosaic Model of Biological Membranes


 
The fluid mosaic model of lipid bilayer membranes, codified by Singer and Nicolson in 1972,  describes the essential features of the biological membrane. It is a two-dimensional fluid, or liquid crystal, in which the hydrophobic integral components such as lipids and membrane proteins are constrained within the plane of the membrane, but are free to diffuse laterally. In the image shown here, two integral membrane proteins are imbedded in the membrane.



 
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