Membrane and Transport (Inquiry and Research)
1) What is the 'Fluid Mosaic Model' and what are it's origins?
The cell membrane (also called the plasma membrane) is a biological membrane.
2) How do the following terms relate to the Fluid Mosaic Model?
a. hydrophobic- tending to repel or fail to mix with water.
b. hydrophilic- Having an affinity for water; readily absorbing or dissolving in water. Water-loving. Common examples of hydrophilic compounds include salt and sugar. Oil, however, will not dissolve
c. macromolecules- macromolecules create lipids, proteins and fats
3) What is diffusion? Passive diffusion? Active diffusion?
Diffusion is the movement of a substance across a membrane. Passive diffusion occurs when substances cross the plasma membrane without any input of energy from the cell. Active diffusion occurs when energy is needed for a substance to move across a plasma membrane.
4) What is osmosis and how does it relate to diffusion?
Osmosis is a special type of diffusion. It's the diffusion of water molecules across a membrane.
5) How does the term 'homeostasis' relate to cells and the Fluid Mosaic.
Fluid mosaic helps perform homeostasis because homeostasis has to stay at the correct form to function, and the fluid mosaic helps it stay at the correct form
The cell membrane (also called the plasma membrane) is a biological membrane.
2) How do the following terms relate to the Fluid Mosaic Model?
a. hydrophobic- tending to repel or fail to mix with water.
b. hydrophilic- Having an affinity for water; readily absorbing or dissolving in water. Water-loving. Common examples of hydrophilic compounds include salt and sugar. Oil, however, will not dissolve
c. macromolecules- macromolecules create lipids, proteins and fats
3) What is diffusion? Passive diffusion? Active diffusion?
Diffusion is the movement of a substance across a membrane. Passive diffusion occurs when substances cross the plasma membrane without any input of energy from the cell. Active diffusion occurs when energy is needed for a substance to move across a plasma membrane.
4) What is osmosis and how does it relate to diffusion?
Osmosis is a special type of diffusion. It's the diffusion of water molecules across a membrane.
5) How does the term 'homeostasis' relate to cells and the Fluid Mosaic.
Fluid mosaic helps perform homeostasis because homeostasis has to stay at the correct form to function, and the fluid mosaic helps it stay at the correct form
Potato Lab
Hypothesis:
The higher the molar solution of the water, the heavier in weight the potato pieces will get. Starting with the 0.0 molar solution, the weight of the potatoes when introduced to the water will incrementally increase when more and more sugar is introduced. The potatoes will start to increase in weight at the 0.0 molar solution because there will be more water in the potatoes. The sugar and the water will diffuse into the potatoes.
Our hypothesis was not accurate for our data. It was accurate for most of the class' data though. Our data was most likely comprised of a lot of outliers, thus proving our hypothesis with our data inaccurate. As our data did not show any correlation to a patten, this backs up our theories that most of our data were outliers. If we did the experiment again, chances are that our data would follow up with our hypothesis. Our hypothesis proved true in some instances, as four out of the six vials had their potato weights rise. The potatoes that grew heavier did so because they absorbed the water from the solution as well as the sugar. Some of the potato pieces may have lost weight due to some of the potato diffusing into the water or some moisture getting squeezed out of the potato when it was taken out if the vial.
The lab relates to diffusion and osmosis because the water was supposed diffuse into the potato cells. The water would diffuse into the cells via passive transport of water. (Osmosis) The sugar would most likely go into the cell via active transport. It would go through either pores in the cell membranes, or through carrier proteins to get into the cells of the potato. The sugar and water would have to get into the cell through active or passive transport.
The variables that affected our data were the amount of sugar in each vial, the time the potatoes were in the solution, and the amount of solution that diffused into the potato depending on how dry each of the potato cells were. All of these variables could have changed the results drastically, even to the point of negative growth as we observed in out data. These variables all had a role in the final results.
What factors govern the size of a cell?
The surface area compared to the area can play a role in the size of a
cell. If a cell has too little surface area relative to its size, then it will not be able to get enough nutrients in and out the cell. This is why cells are small and not large. They also can be smaller because they have a lack of materials inside, and to get larger they will absorb more nutrients through active and passive transport.
Final mass - initial mass
Over
Initial mass
All times 100%
Initial weights
Vial 1 is 1.37 grams Goes to 1 molars
Vial 2 is 1.71 grams goes to .8 molars
Vial 3 is 1.13 grams goes to .6 molars
Vail 4 is 1.27 grams goes to .4 molars
Vial 5 is 1.25 grams goes to .2 molars
Vial 6 is 1.26 grams goes to 0 molars
each vial weighs 37.43 grams
Collection of final mass
Vial 1 is 1.26 grams
Vial 2 is 1.84 grams
Vial 3 is .96 grams
Vial 4 is 1.52 grams
Vial 5 is 1.27 grams
Vial 6 is 1.44 grams
Percentage change
VIAL 1 (1 molar in solution) -8.73%
VIAL 2 (.8 molars in solution) 7.6%
VIAL 3 (.6 molars in solution) -15%
VIAL 4 (.4 molars in solution) 19.69%
VIAL 5 (.2 molars in solution) 1.57%
VIAL 6 (0 molars in solution) 14.29%
The higher the molar solution of the water, the heavier in weight the potato pieces will get. Starting with the 0.0 molar solution, the weight of the potatoes when introduced to the water will incrementally increase when more and more sugar is introduced. The potatoes will start to increase in weight at the 0.0 molar solution because there will be more water in the potatoes. The sugar and the water will diffuse into the potatoes.
Our hypothesis was not accurate for our data. It was accurate for most of the class' data though. Our data was most likely comprised of a lot of outliers, thus proving our hypothesis with our data inaccurate. As our data did not show any correlation to a patten, this backs up our theories that most of our data were outliers. If we did the experiment again, chances are that our data would follow up with our hypothesis. Our hypothesis proved true in some instances, as four out of the six vials had their potato weights rise. The potatoes that grew heavier did so because they absorbed the water from the solution as well as the sugar. Some of the potato pieces may have lost weight due to some of the potato diffusing into the water or some moisture getting squeezed out of the potato when it was taken out if the vial.
The lab relates to diffusion and osmosis because the water was supposed diffuse into the potato cells. The water would diffuse into the cells via passive transport of water. (Osmosis) The sugar would most likely go into the cell via active transport. It would go through either pores in the cell membranes, or through carrier proteins to get into the cells of the potato. The sugar and water would have to get into the cell through active or passive transport.
The variables that affected our data were the amount of sugar in each vial, the time the potatoes were in the solution, and the amount of solution that diffused into the potato depending on how dry each of the potato cells were. All of these variables could have changed the results drastically, even to the point of negative growth as we observed in out data. These variables all had a role in the final results.
What factors govern the size of a cell?
The surface area compared to the area can play a role in the size of a
cell. If a cell has too little surface area relative to its size, then it will not be able to get enough nutrients in and out the cell. This is why cells are small and not large. They also can be smaller because they have a lack of materials inside, and to get larger they will absorb more nutrients through active and passive transport.
Final mass - initial mass
Over
Initial mass
All times 100%
Initial weights
Vial 1 is 1.37 grams Goes to 1 molars
Vial 2 is 1.71 grams goes to .8 molars
Vial 3 is 1.13 grams goes to .6 molars
Vail 4 is 1.27 grams goes to .4 molars
Vial 5 is 1.25 grams goes to .2 molars
Vial 6 is 1.26 grams goes to 0 molars
each vial weighs 37.43 grams
Collection of final mass
Vial 1 is 1.26 grams
Vial 2 is 1.84 grams
Vial 3 is .96 grams
Vial 4 is 1.52 grams
Vial 5 is 1.27 grams
Vial 6 is 1.44 grams
Percentage change
VIAL 1 (1 molar in solution) -8.73%
VIAL 2 (.8 molars in solution) 7.6%
VIAL 3 (.6 molars in solution) -15%
VIAL 4 (.4 molars in solution) 19.69%
VIAL 5 (.2 molars in solution) 1.57%
VIAL 6 (0 molars in solution) 14.29%