General

Biology 1 12
Earth Science – Grade 12
Quarter 1 – Module 7: Cell Membrane: Phospholipid Bilayer
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education Division of Pasig City

Development Team of the Self-Learning Module

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 General
Biology 1 12
Quarter 1
Self-Learning Module 7
Cell Membrane: Phospholipid Bilayer
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the General Biology 1 Self-Learning Module 7 on Cell Membrane:

Phospholipid Bilayer

This Self-Learning Module was collaboratively designed, developed and

reviewed by educators from the Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its
Officer-in-Charge Schools Division Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A.
Agustin, in partnership with the City Government of Pasig through its mayor,
Honorable Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto. The writers utilized the standards set by the K
to 12 Curriculum using the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) in
developing this instructional resource.

This learning material hopes to engage the learners in guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims to help learners
acquire the needed 21st century skills especially the 5 Cs, namely: Communication,
Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Character while taking into
consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the
body of the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
 For the Learner:

Welcome to the General Biology 1 Self-Learning Module on

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You
will be enabled to process the contents of the learning material while being an active
learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

Expectations - This points to the set of knowledge and skills

that you will learn after completing the module.

Pretest - This measures your prior knowledge about the lesson

at hand.

Recap - This part of the module provides a review of concepts

and skills that you already know about a previous lesson.

Lesson - This section discusses the topic in the module.

Activities - This is a set of activities that you need to perform.

Wrap-Up - This section summarizes the concepts and

application of the lesson.

Valuing - This part integrates a desirable moral value in the

lesson.

Posttest – This measures how much you have learned from the
entire module.
 EXPECTATIONS

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. identify the structure and function of the cell membrane;

2. explain the cell membrane’s selective permeability property; and
3. appreciate the desirable properties of phospholipid bilayer for membranes.

PRETEST

True or False. Write TRUE if the statement is correct. Write FALSE if the statement
is incorrect.

_________1. Cell membrane is chemically made up of phospholipid bilayer, embedded

proteins, and cholesterols.
_________2. A phospholipid molecule has two parts: two phosphate heads attached
to four fatty acid tails.
_________3. The polar head is hydrophobic, and the non-polar tail is hydrophilic.
_________4. The lipid bilayer makes the cell membrane selectively permeable by
creating a hydrophobic interior.
_________5. Lipids and non-polar molecules can freely go into and out of the
cell.

RECAP

Observe the pictures below (Fig.7.1). What do these pictures show? Do you
know where are these areas? Are these places familiar to you? These are the
quarantine checkpoints of the Pasig City Police Department in adjacent cities like
Cainta and Marikina to comply with the Enhanced Community Quarantine in an
effort to control the spread of coronavirus disease or COVID-19. Police officers and
health personnel monitor the movement of people in and out city. They carried
thermal scanners to check if those who want to enter and exit Pasig are showing flu-
like symptoms. They are also checking for proof of identifications, and quarantine
passes to people crossing cities and make sure they are doing essential activities
only.

Figure 7.1. Quarantine Checkpoints in boundaries of Pasig City. Source: twitter.com/VicoSotto

From the previous lesson, there is a cell structure similar to what the Police
department's role. Do you know what is it? Answer this activity.

Match the cell organelle to its function. Write the letter of the correct answer.

A. site for cellular respiration

1. nucleus B. carries proteins and other materials
2. mitochondria from one cell organelle to another
3. cell membrane C. controls cell activities
4. ribosomes D. controls what molecules enter and
5. endoplasmic reticulum leave the cell.
E. synthesize proteins from amino acids
 Did you identify the function of each cell organelle correctly? What organelle is
similar to the role of the Pasig City Police Department? If your answer is cell
membrane you're correct!! Let’s go and investigate the structural components of
the cell membrane.

LESSON

CELL MEMBRANE
Cell membrane or plasma membrane is one of the essential structures
common to all cell types. It acts as a barrier that separates the cytoplasm
from the cell’s outer surroundings. Cell membrane is also selectively
permeable, in which it regulates what molecules will enter or leave the cell as
needed. It also receives and responds to external stimuli. Chemically, it is
made up of four different molecules namely, phospholipid, proteins,
cholesterol, and carbohydrates (Fig.7.2).

Figure 7.2. Structure of the Cell Membrane. The cell membrane is composed of phospholipid bilayer, cholesterol, carbohydrate an other
embedded proteins. Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Phospholipids

The cell membrane is composed of phospholipid bilayer, a two-layer of

phospholipid oriented in opposite direction. A phospholipid molecule consists of a
glycerol molecule bonded to a phosphate “head” group and two fatty-acid “tails”.

The chemical structure gives the phospholipid atypical characteristics in

water. The phosphate head end, with its polar covalent bond is hydrophilic, means
attracted to water molecules. While the tail end, which composed of two chains of
fatty acids is hydrophobic, means water-dreading or it repels water. (Fig. 3) Since
phospholipid molecule is comprised of two different ends it is called amphiphilic or
amphiphatic. In fact, soap has also amphiphatic properties that works to remove oil
and grease stains. The hydrophilic portion can dissolve in water while the
hydrophobic portion can trap grease in micelles that then can be washed away.

Figure 7.3. Phospholipid Bilayer. This arrangement of phospholipid molecules makes up the lipid bilayer . Source:
commons.wikimedia.org

In the water, the phospholipid spontaneous arranged themselves into bilayer.

The hydrophilic head face the intracellular fluid on one layer and the extracellular
fluid on the other layer, whereas the hydrophobic tails are left hidden in the middle.
It is somehow comparable to an Oreo cookie. The hydrophilic heads are the two sides
of the cookie and the filling inside represents the hydrophobic tail which are fats.
However, the bilayer forms a three-dimensional sphere, not a flat surface unlike an
Oreo cookie.

Because of its hydrophobic middle portion, the cell membrane utilizes its
selective permeability, allowing only certain substances to pass through it. Small
non-polar molecules such as O2 and CO2 and lipids can freely go into and out of the
cell. Whereas large polar molecules such as glucose are hindered from passing
through. In some ways, this resembles the role Pasig City Police that controls the
movement of people coming and leaving the city premises.

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITY 7.I. Fill in the blanks.

The cell membrane is also called the 1. ___________ membrane and is made
of a phospholipid 2. __________ . The phospholipids have a 3. ______________
(water-attracting) 4.____________ and two 5. ______________ (water-repelling)
6. ______________. The head of a phospholipid is made of an alcohol
and 7._______________ group, while the tails are chains
of 8.____________. Phospholipids can move 9.______________ and allow water and
other 10.____________ molecules to pass through into or out of the cell.

ACTIVITY 7.2. Essay

In 3-5 sentences, explain the structure of soap and how this works in
removing dirt.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

ACTIVITY 7.3. Word Search

Find the words by using the clues below.

• amphiphilic molecule on the cell • means water-attracting

membrane
• head portion of the phospholipid • made up the tail portion of the phospholipid
• provides boundary to the cell • means water-repelling
 WRAP-UP

ACTIVITY 7.4. Sketch and Label. Draw a phospholipid molecule. Color the head part
red and blue for the tail. Label the parts correctly with their characteristic. Then, give
two functions of the cell membrane.

Phospholipid Molecule

Cell Membrane functions:

1. ______________________________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________________________
 VALUING

Do you feel trapped and lonely because you cannot go out, travel, leave and
enter premises this Enhanced Community Quarantine? The outbreak of the
coronavirus Covid-19, now in more than 100 countries have dramatically put a halt
to "normal" life. There are several important public health strategies implemented to
put the brakes on this viral outbreak. It can be as simple as frequent hand washing
with soap to eliminate viral particle along with greasy dirt. On the boarder side, here
in Metro Manila, quarantine checkpoints are established on boundaries between
cities and being supervised by security personnel from PNP to restrict the movement
and activities of people among cities. In that way it is easier to identify who is infected
and safely isolate them from others while they are in treatment, the outbreak can be
stopped. Luckily, inside our body, the cell membrane’s selective permeability
property also does the same by regulating what molecules will enter or leave the cell.

POSTTEST

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer.

1. The primary molecule in the cell membrane is ___________.
A. cholesterol C. proteins
B. carbohydrates D. phospholipids
2. The term for being partially hydrophilic and partially hydrophobic is ___________.
A. amphipathic C. non-polar
B. bipolar D. polar
3. Which of the following is an accurate description of the phospholipid bilayer in cell
membranes?
A. It is made up of two layers of phospholipid polymers.
B. It is made up of two layers of phospholipid molecules with the tails
pointing away from each other.
C. It is made up of two layers of phospholipid molecules with the tails
lying parallel to each other.
D. It is made up of two layers of phospholipid molecules with the tails
interacting with each other.
4. Which of the following statements concerning lipid bilayers is NOT true?
A. Ions are charged, so they cannot move across the hydrophobic region
of the lipid bilayer freely.
B. Ions (charged particles) can freely move across the lipid bilayer.
C. A phospholipid is unique in that it has a hydrophilic region called the
 head, and a hydrophobic region known as the tail.
D. The lipid bilayer is arranged in two layers of phospholipids, with the
hydrophilic heads forming the outer edges and the tails forming the
interior.
5. In a classroom, the doors and windows only let certain things in and out. This is
analogous to an important property of the cell membrane. Which property
of the cell membrane does this?
A. Selective permeability C. Fluidity
B. Flexibility D. A mosaic structure

KEY TO CORRECTION
WRAP UP PRETEST Activity 7.3

1. True phospholipid
2. False phosphate
3. False fatty acids
4. True hydrophilic
5. True hydrophobic
cell membrane
RECAP

Cell Membrane functions: 1. C

2. A
1. Provides barrier between 3. D
cytoplasm and outside 4. E
surrounding. 5. B
2. Regulates the entry and exit
of molecules in the cell.
ACTIVITIES

POSTTEST Activity 7.1.

1. plasma
1. D 2. bilayer
2. A 3. hydrophilic
3. D 4. head
4. B 5. hydrophobic
5. B 6. tail
7. phosphate
8. fatty acids/lipids
9. sideways
10. large
 REFERENCES

“File:Cell Membrane Detailed Diagram edit2.Svg.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, January 7,

2013. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cell_membrane_detailed_diagram_edit2.svg.

Hoefnagels, Marielle. General Biology. McGraw-Hill Education. Abiva Publishing House,Inc. 2016.

Miller, Stephen A., and John P. Harley. Zoology. New York: McGraw Hill, 2010.

Starr, Cecie. Evers, Christine. and Lisa. Starr. Biology: Today and Tomorrow Biology for Non Science
Majors. Cengage Learning. 2010

“Home.” ChagrinValleySoapAndSalve.com. Accessed July 3, 2020.

https://www.chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com/.

“Cell Membrane: Functions, Role & Structure - Video & Lesson Transcript.” Study.com. Accessed
July 3, 2020. https://study.com/academy/lesson/cell-membrane-functions-role-structure.html.

“Plasma Membrane of a Cell: Definition, Function & Structure - Video & Lesson Transcript.”
Study.com. Accessed July 3, 2020. https://study.com/academy/lesson/plasma-membrane-of-a-
cell-definition-function-structure.html.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:0302_Phospholipid_Bilayer.jpg