What is the difference between a fat cell and a lipid

  • Thread starter Thread starter GOD ENTITY
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Cell Difference
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the distinction between fat cells and lipids, exploring the definitions and characteristics of each. Participants engage with concepts from biology and biochemistry, questioning how lipids relate to fat cells and the implications of these definitions.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the terminology, stating that lipids are molecules and expressing confusion over why they are referred to as fat cells.
  • Another participant clarifies that a fat cell is a type of cell that contains lipid molecules, specifically mentioning the presence of a fat droplet within the cell.
  • Some participants suggest that a lipid should not be defined as a fat cell, emphasizing that lipids are distinct from cells and should be understood as molecules.
  • There is a suggestion for the original poster to read introductory biochemistry and genetics texts to gain a better understanding of the concepts involved.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about whether a lipid can be defined as a fat cell, indicating they have heard conflicting information.
  • Another participant reiterates that a lipid is a molecule and not a cell or droplet, reinforcing the distinction between the two terms.
  • Some participants highlight the need for foundational knowledge in biology to understand the differences between cells and chemical compounds like lipids.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the definitions and relationships between fat cells and lipids. There are multiple competing views, with some asserting clear distinctions and others expressing confusion or alternative interpretations.

Contextual Notes

Some participants emphasize the importance of foundational knowledge in biology to clarify the differences between biological structures and chemical compounds, suggesting that misunderstandings may stem from a lack of background information.

GOD ENTITY
Messages
32
Reaction score
1
NEED HELP! what is the difference between a fat cell and a lipid?¿?

lipids are said to be molecules!

so why are they also called fat cells. cells are only cells when there is cytoplasm, a cell wall, one or more nuclei, and various organelles, all surrounded by a semipermeable cell membrane.

how is that we call a lip a cell if its only actually a molecule (a collection of two or more different atoms).
?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
A fat cell, is a cell (with a membrane, a nucleus etc.). A very large portion of a fat cell consists of a "fat droplet" i.e. an aggregate of lipid molecules.
 
GOD ENTITY said:
lipids are said to be molecules!
so why are they also called fat cells. cells are only cells when there is cytoplasm, a cell wall, one or more nuclei, and various organelles, all surrounded by a semipermeable cell membrane.
how is that we call a lip a cell if its only actually a molecule (a collection of two or more different atoms).
?

I have noticed some of your posts and I do not want to discourage you for being curious, however I think you would be more productive if you were to sit down and read introductory biochemistry and genetics books. I recommend Leghninger Biochemistry, and Lodish Molecular Biolgy (genetics.) That way you can obtain all the basic knowledge and that may trigger other questions that may not be so obvious. Hope this helps.
 
no it doesn't but thanks anyway. :) but gerben response does actually help me. so gerben am i wrong when i say that a lipid can be defined as a fat cell because i am sure that i heard that somewhere or are they only defined as fat droplets.
 
GOD ENTITY said:
no it doesn't but thanks anyway. :) but gerben response does actually help me. so gerben am i wrong when i say that a lipid can be defined as a fat cell because i am sure that i heard that somewhere or are they only defined as fat droplets.
A lipid is the molecule, it is neither a cell nor a droplet. A fat cell is a cell that contains lipids, as well as having all the other characteristics typical of an animal cell. Check out a biology textbook and look at the illustrations that accompany the explanations to help understand what a lipid molecule is.
 
Moonbear said:
A lipid is the molecule, it is neither a cell nor a droplet. A fat cell is a cell that contains lipids, as well as having all the other characteristics typical of an animal cell. Check out a biology textbook and look at the illustrations that accompany the explanations to help understand what a lipid molecule is.
You failed to understand :confused: his explanation and this is surely because of your elementary lack of knowledge of the difference between one of a class of objects of biological structure, a cell, and a certain class of chemical compounds known as lipids.
You DO need to establish some sort of foundation in facts, as recommended very kindly by moonbear and backed up by quasi426
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

What are the lipids on the double membrane of a eukaryote cell's nucleus?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
High School PV cell charge separation by an external electric field
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
Help to understand reversibility in galvanic cell
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
6K
Biology test questions - How are my answers
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Interesting Path to Eukaryotic Cell Complexity Proposed
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Did Neurons Evolve from Secretory Cells?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
What is the difference between polysaccharides and lipids?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
Why Does Electrical Work Cause Changes in the Internal Energy of a System?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
How Does Osmosis Affect a Protozoa Cell in Freshwater?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
7K
Bio Homework Review (Please check and Correct)
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
20K