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Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Lipid Structures And Functions
Increased unsaturation in a fatty acid results in __________.
no change in membrane fluidity
an increase or decrease in fluidity dependent of the temperature
decreased membrane fluidity
no change with respect to membrane fluidity
increased membrane fluidity
increased membrane fluidity
A greater degree of unsaturation results in a disruption of van der Waals forces between fatty acid chains. This is due to the "kinks" that occur within an unsaturated fatty acid. It is easy to visualize a fatty acid membrane with kinks being less tightly packed, and therefore more fluid. This increase in fluidity is independent of temperature.
Example Question #12 : Lipid Structures And Functions
Which of the following is true of an omega-6 fatty acid?
It has six double bonds located throughout the fatty acid
It has a single bond at the sixth position, counting from the carboxyl end of the fatty acid
It has a single bond at the sixth position, counting from the methyl end of the fatty acid
It has a double bond at the sixth position, counting from the methyl end of the fatty acid
It has a double bond at the sixth position, counting from the carboxyl end of the fatty acid
It has a double bond at the sixth position, counting from the methyl end of the fatty acid
The rules for fatty acid nomenclature state that Omega 6 means that a double bond is located at the sixth position of the fatty acid - counting from the methyl end.
Example Question #11 : Fatty Acids
Which of the following statements about lipids is incorrect?
Myristic acid is saturated with 14 carbons and 0 double bonds
Linolenic acid's nomenclature is C18:29,12
Lipid double bonds are almost always cis
None of these
Biological waxes are nonpolar esters of fatty acids and long chain alcohols
Linolenic acid's nomenclature is C18:29,12
Linoleic acid's nomenclature is C18:29,12. Linolenic acid's nomenclature is C18:39,12,15. They both have 18 carbons but differ by one extra double bond in linolenic acid.
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