Physical Ways Of Disrupting A Cell Membrane

A. The cell membrane is made up of phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates. The phospholipids and cholesterol both help create the roof of the cell membrane and they both regulate the fluidity of the cell membrane. The proteins in the cell membrane help provide a structural function, transport function, and signaling function all within the membrane (Yeagle, 1989). The carbohydrates are on the external side of the cell membrane. Also the carbohydrates provide a signaling function with the proteins and lipids.
B. Some of the physical ways of testing a cell membrane is to try to break it physically by using specific tools to do so. Chemical methods can also help to break down a cell membrane. Therefore, just by using different concentration levels of a chemical can help conclude the potential outcome of disrupting a cell membrane.
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The first chemical used for this experiment was SDS with the concentration levels of 0.01%, 0.1%, 1%, and 10%. The second chemical that was used was Alcohol with the concentration levels of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%. The third chemical tested was Acetone with the concentration levels of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%. The fourth chemical that was test was 30 percent of ethyl alcohol with concentration levels of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%. SDS breaks down the cell membrane the most compared to the other chemicals. Alcohol doesn’t break down cell membranes that well. Acetone is also a weak chemical or disrupting cell membranes. Lastly, 30 percent of ethyl alcohol this chemical is not good at disrupting cell