The Functions Carried Out by Membranes are Indispensable for Life - Essay Example

e exchange of material between different cells also takes place by the help of small openings which are known as gap junctions and these junctions assist in the movement of substances from one cell to another. Membranes have complex structures made up of lipids proteins and carbohydrates and each of these macro molecules serve different functions in the maintenance of the integrity of the cell membrane. The lipids help in the specific movement of substances because they only allow lipid soluble substances to pass through the membrane where as restrict the movement of water soluble or lipid insoluble substances.

Proteins form specific channels within the membrane and these channels provide for the movement of substances which cannot pass directly through the lipid bilayer. These proteins also function as enzymes which help in different chemical reactions. Carbohydrates form chains which help in the connections of different cells. Many enzymes are embedded within the cell membrane of different organelles and these enzymes are very important for different processes of the body. Examples of these processes include oxidative phosphorylation and photosynthesis which are energy generating processes and enzymes for these processes are fixed in cell membranes and hence these help in the carrying out of these life essential processes.

Membranes also have a role in the generation of impulses. Were it not for the sodium potassium pump which exist in the cell membrane the transmission of impulses whether they may be in the brain, muscles or anywhere in the body could not have been generated and hence all the different actions within the body would have come to a halt. The cell membranes also help in signal transmission. A process known as transmembrane signaling also. This essay aims to clarify the functions of membranes with regard to their crucial status in life.

The functions carried out by membranes are indispensable for life. If there were no membranes present in the body all the different body fluids would have muddled up and there would have been no existence of life. Membranes not only separate the different body cells from one another but they have a more specific function of separating different organelles that exist within the cell. This helps in the identification of different organelles within the cell and it assists them in performing their functions separately as required by the cells.

The membranes help in the maintenance of normal intracellular and extracellular environment which is fundamental to life. The membranes have selective permeabilities that is they allow certain substances to pass through and not others. This selective permeability helps to maintain different compositions inside the cell. It is clear that if any changes occur in the cell membrane whether due to mutations the processes of the cell membranes become altered and this can lead to a disease. The researcher states that one such disease is cystic fibrosis, which occurs due to mutation in the gene which encodes for a chloride channel.

Other known diseases are Wilson’s disease and Achondroplasia, which are also associated to mutations. Thus it can be said that without the cell membrane normal cellular functions cannot be carried out and hence cell membranes are very crucial for the existence of life.