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The Fluid Mosaic Model Using An Online Dictionary

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The definition of the fluid mosaic model using an online dictionary is that it is used for cell membranes and their flexible structure of lipid and protein molecules which are interspersed throughout the phospholipid bilayer. [The American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, 2005]. The fluid mosaic model was proposed in 1972 for providing a description on structures within cell membranes of both plant and animal cells. Since the proposal of this model of membrane structure, it has been developed further and now has the ability to provide people with documentations on the roles and importance of more specialised membrane structural compounds like phospholipids. Along with this ability, it also provides information on the extracellular matrix structures within an animal cell as well as the cytoskeletal fences. [Nicolson, G. L. 2013]. This development from the first proposal of the fluid mosaic model in 1972 means we are able to continuously build and adapt on the current foundations by adding more information and complexity but allow the more basic and original information and proposals of the first fluid mosaic model to remain intact. [Nicolson, G. L. 2013]. The fluid mosaic model was created as a way of describing the plasma membrane of a cell as a fluid combination of carbohydrates, cholesterol, proteins and phospholipids. This model has the name ‘fluid mosaic’ as it is a large combination of structures attached to one another in order to create one structure.

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