The plasma membrane surrounding cells is composed of lipids and proteins, and is coupled to cytoskeletal fibers and to extracellular matrix. The mixture of lipids that makes up most cell membranes is fluid, forming a liquid film. As a consequence of this fluidity, flow near a membrane can induce a sympathetic flow of lipids and membrane proteins. I will discuss experiments demonstrating this lipid mobility in immobile membranes, and show that fluid flow can be used to advect proteins within lipid bilayers, producing a local concentration gradient./p>

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