Osmosis is Serious Business!

By Troy R. Nash

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.

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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

Teaching Notes & Answer Key

Teaching Notes

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Answer Key

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