{"id":2178,"date":"2016-05-13T20:48:40","date_gmt":"2016-05-13T20:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/biologyxwaymakerxmaster\/?post_type=chapter&p=2178"},"modified":"2017-01-26T22:57:24","modified_gmt":"2017-01-26T22:57:24","slug":"why-it-matters-cell-membranes","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-wmopen-biology1\/chapter\/why-it-matters-cell-membranes\/","title":{"raw":"Why It Matters: Cell Membranes","rendered":"Why It Matters: Cell Membranes"},"content":{"raw":"

Why describe and explain the structure and function of membranes?<\/h2>\r\nCystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that primarily affects the lungs, as well as the pancreas, liver, and intestine.\u00a0CF\u00a0is characterized by abnormal transport of chloride and sodium across body tissues, leading to thick, viscous secretions.\u00a0The hallmark symptoms of cystic fibrosis are salty tasting skin, poor growth, poor weight gain despite a normal food intake, accumulation of thick, sticky mucus, frequent chest infections, and coughing or shortness of breath. Symptoms often appear in infancy and childhood, such as bowel obstruction in newborn babies.\r\n\r\nThe most serious symptoms of CF are\u00a0difficulty breathing\u00a0and frequent lung infections. Often, lung transplantation is ultimately\u00a0necessary as CF worsens. Other symptoms, including sinus infections, poor growth, and infertility affect other parts of the body.\r\n\r\nCystic fibrosis results from the malfunctioning of a single membrane transporter. How could this error in membrane transport result in such a disease?\r\n

Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\r\n