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Biology Simulations
Cells & membranes

Fluid mosaic membrane simulation

How does the fluid mosaic structure help a cell membrane work?

Explore a 3D animal plasma membrane. Separate phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins and carbohydrates, then investigate modelled fluidity.

Open simulation

Explore at your own pace. Pause, look closer, play again.

Fluid mosaic membrane model showing a phospholipid bilayer with proteins and surface carbohydrates.
Fluid mosaic membrane simulationView from the simulation

Look closer.

  1. Inspect phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins and surface carbohydrates in the bilayer.
  2. Use the exploded view to separate the components and locate each one.
  3. Compare transport and signalling examples, then adjust temperature and composition to explore fluidity.