Cell Membrane Components and Represented

Rationale
Processes by
Components
Membrane Lipids (Bilayer)
- Phospholipids - Large - The phospholipids are molecules composed of
marshmallows hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails. Soft
(hydrophilic and fluffy marshmallows were used for the
heads) and heads because these are permeable only by
toothpicks some substances. Two toothpicks attached
(hydrophobic together were used for each tail because they
tails) are long and may exhibit the model’s fluidity. The
gaps between the heads contribute to its semi-
permeability, as only some substances (such as
those small enough) are able to pass through the
layer.
- Sphingolipids
- The sphingolipids are believed to protect the
- Tiny cell surface against harmful factors. Small
marshmallows marshmallows were used to represent the
attached to sphingolipids because they can minimize the
the large impact of a hard fall or hit if the model falls, just
marshmallows like the actual function of a sphingolipid in the
cell membrane which is to form a mechanical or
chemical protection of the phospholipid bilayer.
- Cholesterol
- The cholesterol is a rigid molecule which gives
- Yellow the cell membrane extra support. Large gummy
gummy bears bears embedded inside the layer were used
because cholesterol immobilizes the lipids
surrounding them, making the membrane a bit
less fluid.
Membrane Proteins
- Integral - Gummy - Integral proteins act as transporters and
worms sliced channels which allows some substances to pass
medially through the membrane. It is permanently
embedded inside the membrane. A gummy
worm sliced medially was used because it is long
and it will allow some substances to pass through
it.
- Peripheral
- Gummy - Gummy worms placed outside the hydrophobic
worms region of the membrane were used to represent
the peripheral proteins because they function
for the support and intercellular communication
of the cell. They are located outside the tails of
the membrane.
Carbohydrate - Green - These were used to represent carbohydrates
gummy bears because they are starchy in nature just like the
 gummy candy. Likewise, the carbohydrate
chains of the cell membrane are easily
mimicked by stacking the gummy bears on top
of each other.

+ lipid = glycolipid - The orange gummy bears were used in order

to resemble the chain-like appearance of
glycolipids which are attached to the
phospholipid bilayer.

+ protein = glycoprotein - Within the cell membrane are the integral

proteins in which the glycoproteins are
attached to. They are located near the
marshmallows (hydrophilic heads) as they are
connected to the integral proteins. These were
used to resemble the representation of the
proteins themselves but of different colors in
order to distinguish these components.
Other Cellular Ultrastructures - Long wavy - Gummy worms were used because they are
- Cytoskeleton/Cytoskeletal gummy hard enough to provide support for the cell while
elements worms not compromising the cell membrane’s fluidity.
- Extracellular membrane attached to
the exterior of - Anything exterior to the model represents the
the extracellular membrane, which contains the
membrane nutrients the cell needs for its nourishment.
Process/Properties - All the parts of the cell in the model contribute
Marshmallows to the different properties of the cell membrane
and such as fluidity, mosaicity, self-healing,
toothpicks as cytoskeletal fencing, and lipid rafts, as explained
the above.
phospholipid
bilayer

- Gummy
worms as the
embedded
proteins

1. How does the cell membrane show its semi-permeability?

The model exhibits the membrane’s semi-permeability because the gaps between the
hydrophilic heads will allow some substances to pass through. The marshmallows in the model
also contains very tiny pores and the integral proteins used in the model may serve as a channel
for other substances so they may pass through the cell.