B2.

1 Membranes and membrane transport

■ Paper 1 5 What is the role of an aquaporin?
1 The diagram below shows a plasma membrane. A Channel protein for water
What are the correct names for structures X and Y? B Movement of ions against their concentration gradient
C Movement of glucose down a concentration gradient
Y D Moving water out, not into, a cell
6 The diagram below shows a section through a plasma
membrane. Which modes of transport across the
membrane are shown by I and II?
II
X
I
X Y
A phospholipid integral protein

B channel protein glycocalyx

C extrinsic protein fatty acid

D phosphate head fatty acid tail

2 Which features of phospholipids give them their

amphipathic properties? I II
A Acidic phosphate groups and basic lipids A osmosis facilitated diffusion
B Basic phosphate groups and acidic lipids
B facilitated diffusion simple diffusion
C Hydrophobic phosphate groups and hydrophilic
C simple diffusion facilitated diffusion
fatty acids
D active transport facilitated diffusion
D Hydrophilic phosphate groups and hydrophobic
fatty acids 7 The table shows concentrations of potassium ions and
3 Plasma membranes are fluid due to: sodium ions inside and outside human cells.
A The amphipathic properties of phospholipids What explains these concentrations?
B The water present on the outside of the Concentration of ions / 10 −3 mol dm−3
plasma membrane Ions Intracellular Extracellular
C The integral proteins with polar and non-polar potassium ions 135 4
regions interacting with phospholipids sodium ions 10 145
D Vesicles fusing with the plasma membrane A Potassium ions diffuse in and sodium ions
during exocytosis diffuse out
4 Which is the correct definition of osmosis? B Sodium ions diffuse in and potassium ions
A Movement of water from low to high concentration diffuse out
B Movement of water from higher to lower C Active transport pumps sodium ions in and
concentration potassium ions out
C Movement of water from lower water potential D Active transport pumps sodium ions out and
to higher water potential through a partially potassium ions in
permeable membrane Standard Level Paper 1, Time Zone 2, May 19, Q5
D Movement of water from a dilute to more
concentrated solute solution through a partially
permeable membrane

Biology for the IB Diploma Programme B2.1 Membranes and membrane transport 27
8 Which type of transportation happens in the sodium– 12 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are an example of:
potassium pump? A Voltage-gated potassium channels
A Simple diffusion B Voltage-gated sodium channels
B Osmosis C Ligand–receptor interaction
C Facilitated diffusion D Neurotransmitter-gated ion channels
D Active transport 13 Cholesterol is found in the cell membrane.
(Questions 9–14 HL only) An experiment was carried out to investigate the
9 Which statement applies to cholesterol? effects of temperature on the fluidity of the membrane.
A It is hydrophobic and found on the inside of the The results are shown in the graph below.
phospholipid bilayer fluid-like
B It is hydrophilic and found outside the without
cholesterol
phospholipid bilayer
C It impacts on membrane fluidity with

membrane
cholesterol

fluidity
D It is transported in association with glucose in
the blood
10 Which of the following is used in indirect
active transport?
A Sodium–potassium pumps solid-like Tm

B Sodium-dependent glucose cotransporters temperature

C Voltage-gated sodium channels
a Describe the effects of temperature on
D Aquaporins
membrane fluidity. [2]
11 What is the role of cell-adhesion molecules (CAMs)? b Explain the effects of cholesterol on membrane
A Antigen recognition fluidity at different temperatures. [7]
B Attachment of endothelium to basement c Suggest the advantage of the trends shown by
membrane in capillaries these data for animals with cholesterol in their
C Used in different types of cell–cell junction membranes which live in Arctic areas. [3]
D Used in antigen–antibody interactions

14 An investigation was carried out on the composition of fatty acids in the cell membranes
of a bacterium, Chryseobacterium frigidisoli PB4, sampled from Antarctic glacier soils.
The habitat of the bacteria is characterized by extremely low temperatures.
The effect of changing temperature on fatty acid composition was analysed. Data are
presented in the graph below, which shows the relative proportion of unsaturated and
saturated fatty acids from C. frigidisoli PB4 cultivated at different temperatures

30 a Compare and contrast the relative

percentage of saturated and unsaturated
fatty acids at different temperatures. [3]
relative percentage of the
major fatty acids/%

20
b Explain the trends seen in the data for
saturated and unsaturated fatty acids at
different temperatures. [7]
c Suggest reasons why the composition
10
of both fatty acids changes in the way
Key
saturated fatty acids demonstrated by the data. [3]
unsaturated fatty acids
0

0 5 10 15 20
temperature/°C

Biology for the IB Diploma Programme B2.1 Membranes and membrane transport 28
■ Paper 2 (Question 4 HL only)
1 Draw and label a 2D section of an animal 4 The figure below shows two mechanisms for
cell membrane. [4] transporting material across membranes.
2 a Outline the roles of phospholipids, cholesterol X
and glycolipids in the plasma membrane at the
cell surface. [6]
b Outline the functions of proteins in
cell membranes. [5]
Standard Level Paper 2, Time Zone 1, May 19, Q7b (modified)

3 Describe four types of membrane transport, including

their use of energy. [6] Y
Standard Level Paper 2, Time Zone 2, May 19, Q5 (modified)

a State the names for processes X and Y. [2]

b Explain the role both processes play in the
transport of material into and out from cells. [5]

Biology for the IB Diploma Programme B2.1 Membranes and membrane transport 29