This characteristic behavior of oil and water is of critical importance for living things, determining...?

Question

This characteristic behavior of oil and water is of critical importance for living things, determining many properties of the cell. Can you explain how?

Answer 1

Probably the hydrophobic nature of oil molecules. This behavior is part of the mechanism in the function of cell membranes. Without it, the cell wall could not keep what's inside the cell in, and what's outside the cell out.

This also keeps the contents of the nucleus and organelles separate from the cytoplasm.