Cell Membrane Lab

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Introduction: In the lab, both osmosis and diffusion were observed. First diffusion was observed in the membrane of the sausage casing. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from a high concentration to a low concentration (Russell et al., 2011). Particles diffuse across the membranes of cells in order to transport particular molecules in and out of the cell. Cell membranes are semipermeable. This means depending on the size and polarity of the molecule determines if the molecule will pass thorough the membrane (Russel et al., 2011). Secondly the process of osmosis was viewed through Solanum tuberosums, or potatoes. Osmosis is the movement of water from an area of low solvent to high solvent. Water moves to the solution where there are more molecules. Depending if the solution is hypotonic, hypertonic, or isotonic, determines which direction the water will move. Both diffusion and osmosis occur within cells at all times to allow the movement of certain particles between cells. Plant cells are structurally more complex because of their cellulose plant well. A plant cell is less affected by osmosis because they are freely permeable to water, inelastic, and able to resist cell expansion. The animal cell membrane is highly permeable to water due to its less structured outer membrane (Hoffman, 2009). Therefore osmosis through the semipermeable membrane of an animal cell can result in crenation or turgidity. This meaning either too much water leaves the cell, crenation, or too much water enters the cell, turgidity, resulting in a shrinking or expanding cell. Although this can occur to plant cells as well it is less detrimental to the cell because of the rigid cell wall. Both osmosis and diffusion occur in plant and animal cells. Surface area to volume ratio is an important concept to understand. At first one may think the larger the object will gain the higher
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