What is the fluid mosaic model?

The fluid mosaic is a model created in 1972 by S.J. Singer and Garth Nicolson to portray the structure of a plasma membrane. The model helps to understand the structure and function of a membrane, which in its composition includes proteins, phospholipids, carbohydrates and cholesterol.

A fluid mosaic model is generally expressed as an illustration of the relationship and structure of the components of a plasma membrane. The model shows the composition of the membrane and how each part works individually and as a unit. Although the fluid mosaic model has changed slightly over time, it still maintains the integrity of how to understand a plasma membrane.