Experiment 4: Cellular Transport

The movement of ions and

molecules from region of
high concentration to region
of low concentration
Concentration gradient difference
in the concentration over the distance
between high and low concentration
The higher the
concentration, the rate of
diffusion is rapid
The rate of diffusion is
directly proportional to
temperature
The rate of diffusion is
inversely proportional to the
molecular weight of the
substance involved

Membrane systems (intracellular)

Nucleus
Mitochondrion
Chloroplast
Compartmentalization necessary for the
organism to maintain a steady
state/homeostasis
Homeostasis a stable internal environment
in the midst of an ever-changing external
environment
Essential for all enzymatic and cellular
processes to function efficiently in an
organism
Compartment membranes allow ions
and organic compounds (sugar, amino
acids, nucleotides) to enter the
organism and allow waste products to
be excreted (it uses transport
mechanisms
TRANSPORT MECHANIMS
Diffusion
Osmosis
Facilitated Transport
Active Transport
Absorption
Capillary action
I.

Brownian Movement

Kinetic energy causes the molecules

of water be in constant motion
Brownian movement (the constant
motion) an erratic, vibratory
movement of small structures
suspended in water
Minute particles like pollen grain
undergo zigzag motion when
observed through the microscope due
to the random collisions of water
molecules in all directions
II.

Indian ink minute carbon particles

in suspension
Observed under the microscope
Heated
Observe the rate of movement
Carmine powder
Diffusion

Diffusion of Liquid in Solid (Gel)

Agar-agar (gelatin; polysaccharide)
Potassium ferricyanide
Ferrous sulfate

Prusian blue

Diffusion of Gas in Gas

The reaction which is taking place is:
ammonia + hydrogen chloride ammonium
chloride
NH (g) + HCl (g) NH Cl (s)
3

The exact time taken for the ring to

form will depend on the dimensions of
the tube, the amount of the solutions
which are put on the cotton wool buds
and the temperature of the room.
The ring usually forms nearer to the
hydrochloric acid end of the tube
because hydrogen chloride diffuses
more slowly than ammonia.
This is because hydrogen chloride has
almost twice the molecular mass of
ammonia, and the rate of diffusion is
inversely proportional to the square
root of the molecular mass of the gas.
It is worth noting that the rate of
diffusion is not the same as the speed
at which the gas molecules travel

(which is hundreds of meters per

second).
The gas molecules follow a zigzag
path through the tube as they collide
with the molecules of the gases in the
air that are present in the tube.
The purpose of the glass tube is to
eliminate air currents and to see if the
gas molecules will move on their own.
III.
Osmosis
a special case of diffusion that occurs
in biological systems
the movement of water molecules
through a differentially permeable
membrane from a region of high
concentration to a region of lower
concentration
occurs when placed in dilute aqueous
solutions
Water pressure within the cell causes
the water to flow back out of the cell
Equilibrium is reached when the flow
of water into the cell balances out of
the cell
The pressure at equilibrium is called
osmotic pressure
Kidney the osmoregulatory organ; it
adjusts the concentration of the
substances in the body fluids that
bathe the cell
A. Plant cell osmosis
Plant cells have rigid cellulosic cell
walls
Under normal conditions, the
cytoplasm is closely pressed against
this cell wall (Turgid)
1. Rhoeo discolor
Stomatal pore crescent shaped
guard cells
Active photosynthesize guard
cells are swollen or turgid; stomata is
open
Inactive; water is limiting
become flaccid (collapsed); stomata is
closed
Kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica)
B. Animal cell osmosis
Animal cells lack a cell wall and
are more susceptible to changes in
the tonicity of the fluids in which
they are immersed
Shown by the erythrocytes or
red blood cells (RBCs)

IV.

Vascular Transport
Active transport is used for
transportation of water, metabolic
waste, hormones, minerals and
gases
Complex Vascular systems is
used by multicellular plants and
animals because cells as parts of
the multicellular organism no
longer have free access to the
external environment; they must
depend on some sort of circulatory
system
A. In Animals fins of a guppy fish
Vascular or circulatory system
is composed of the heart, blood
vessels, lymphatic system that
carry not only oxygen but also
carbon dioxide, lipids,
carbohydrates, proteins,
hormones, metabolic waste
and other substance to all
parts of the body to be used,
stored and excreted

B. Plants
Bidirectional is the way of how transport of
sap occurs; DOWNWARD flow carries
organic molecules; UPWARD flow carries
water and dissolved ions from the soil by the
roots; both must penetrate to all tissues;
THE CIRCULATION

Pholoem
downward flow

Xylem upward
flow

Water escapes
from the leaves
by transpiration

Stomatal flow
open up to allow
CO22 to enter

Replaced by
conduction from
the vessels of
the Xylem

Long columns of
sap is lifted in
the xylem

Cell walls are

soaked by the
water

Transpiration of
water adn
internal
cohesion of the
sap columnn
occurs