Explain why membranes are semifluid and describe how membrane composition can affect fluidity? What are other factors that affect Fluidity? Solution Membranes are composed of both type of fatty acid(unsaturated and saturated) unsaturated fatty acid always tend to be liquid state, where as saturated fatty acid tend to take a gel state, and the proteins in plasma membrane are also water soluble, so membrane takes a gel like semi fluid state always & its also important for membrane as membrane fluidity confers the transportation of several molecules important for cell. Semifluid nature also helps the cell to be more elastic type. if membrane has a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids then it takes a liquid or fluidic stage and if membrane has a high percentage of saturated fatty acid then it takes a semi solid gel like structure. Cholesterol in the membrane makes a membrane less fluid gel like substance.The other factors that affects fluidity are 1. Temperature 2.polarity 3.pH 4.protein present in the membrane.