New News Biology #6

Osmosis

Osmosis (a special case of diffusion):

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane, from a region of higher water concentration to a region of lower water concentration

Solutes = dissolved molecules inside water

Note: concentration of solutes & concentration of water are NEGATIVELY CORRELATED

If... TOO MUCH water diffuses into an animal cell, it could burst

Water in Plant Cells:

Too much water = ‘Turgid’

Too little water = ‘Flaccid’

Note: in either way, not so good for the plant cell