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Osmosis is Serious Business!

By Troy R. Nash

Osmosis is Serious Business!


 

Abstract

This directed case study involves two “stories,” each one concerned with some aspect of osmosis in living cells. Part I is centered around the effects of a hypertonic environment on plant cells, while Part II focuses on the effects of a hypotonic environment on human cells. After reading the parts, students working in small groups evaluate the information and answer the corresponding questions. This case was designed for use in a non-majors biology course, but could be adapted for use in a majors’ introductory biology course or a high school biology class.

   

Date Posted

12/15/2008

Overview

Objectives

  • Understand solute concentration and the process of osmosis.
  • Be able to determine the net direction of osmosis in a given situation.
  • Understand osmosis in plant cells and be able to apply the term plasmolysis.
  • Understand osmosis in animal cells and be able to apply the term lysis.

Keywords

Osmosis; diffusion; tonicity; hypertonic; hypotonic; lysis; plasmolysis; blood cells; fertilizer

  

Subject Headings

Biology (General)
Botany / Plant Science
Cell Biology
Physiology

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

High school, Undergraduate lower division

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Directed

 

 

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