Fluid Mosaic Model of Cell Membranes

Steps:

• Recall the fluid mosaic model: a dynamic structure with a fluid phospholipid bilayer.
• Identify key components: phospholipids provide fluidity; proteins are embedded and scattered.
• Evaluate choices: mosaic refers to the patchwork-like distribution of proteins, not lipids or cholesterol patterns.
• Confirm: the term "mosaic" specifically describes protein scattering in the bilayer.

Why D is correct:

• The fluid mosaic model, proposed by Singer and Nicolson, defines the membrane as a fluid lipid bilayer with proteins scattered irregularly like mosaic tiles.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Phospholipid movement creates fluidity, not distinct patterns.
• B: Cholesterol is randomly distributed for stability, but doesn't define the mosaic aspect.
• C: Cholesterol lacks a regular pattern; it's interspersed without fixed arrangement.

Final answer: D