The Fluid Mosaic

Gracie Muth
Honors Biology 10 Period 4
Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School
April 30, 2018
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INTRODUCTION

Every molecule has energy and is constantly moving. Passive transport is defined as a

type of transport in which molecules or ions move along a concentration gradient. This causes

movement from an area of high to low concentration. This motion causes the molecules to bump

into each other and move in different directions. All cells are surrounded by a cell membrane. A

selectively permeable cell membrane allows certain molecules or ions to pass through it by

passive or active transport. “Selective permeability is important for the cell to maintain its

internal order irrespective of the changes to the environment. For example, water, ions, glucose

and carbon dioxide may need to be imported or exported from the cell depending on its

metabolic activity” (Biology Dictionary, 2017). There are two passive transport movements that

deal with the cell membrane: diffusion and osmosis. Diffusion uses channel proteins in which

small charged ions move from an area of high concentration to low concentration. Therefore,

large molecules won’t be able to cross.

Osmosis is the movement of water only. Therefore, water has to go through the

phospholipid bilayer. “The diffusion of water across a semi-permeable membrane is

called osmosis. The membrane allows the cell to choose, by means of receptors and channels, the

things it will let in and it allows the cell to hold onto the many vital substances which are

dissolved in its cytoplasm” (Hypertonic and Hypotonic Environments, 2016). There are three

different osmotic environments. The environments are hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic. A

hypertonic environment is when water leaves the cell which results in it shriveling. Cells are

placed in a hypotonic environment when water enters the cell causing it to burst. “When you

were waiting in the lobby, you and two other people are like solute in a solution, and all the
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space around is water. When the elevator doors opened, there is a lot more people in a lot less

space in the elevator - a lot more solute in a lot less water. Therefore, your lobby was considered

hypotonic when compared to the crammed elevator.”

Cells are placed in an isonomic environment when there is equal water coming in and

out of the cell. Osmosis is helpful in real world situations. Our cells need to be in an isotonic

environment. If not, the cells may explode or shrink. Cytolysis is another name for a cell that is

taking in too much water. This is very unhealthy for the human body. An example of this would

be in college. When joining a fraternity sometimes they force a person to perform certain actions

that could potentially be dangerous. Forcing people to drink water can result in many health

issues and even death. It is always important to pay attention to the amount of water a person

puts into your body.

Dialysis tubing is used to mimic the semi permeable cell membrane. Tubing allows

diffusion of small substances through the membrane. It is very similar to the cell membrane,

which is why it was used in this lab. One purpose of this lab was to see how the cell membrane

worked and operated. Another purpose was to show students how environments around cells

affect the weight of the cell. Finally, a purpose of this lab was to see the effects of osmosis on

hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic environments.

The set up for this experiment was a simulated cell filled with 5mL of water placed in all

water, next one with 20% glucose placed in water, then 40%, and 60%. There was a simulated

diffusion cell filled with 5 mL of water in 60% glucose and 80% water. The dependent variable

for part one is weight of the cell after each set period of time and the independent variable is

sugar/glucose in cell. The dependent variable for part two is color change and the independent

variable is placement of starch. Constants for part one is the 5mL solution in the bag, the amount
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of water (200mL), how the dialysis tubing was tied, the same string, how they were timed (every

three minutes), and drying off before they were weighed. The control group for part one was the

beaker with water and water. The experimental group was the rest of the setup. For experiment

two, the constants were the 20 drops of iodine, making sure the bag was washed before being

dropped into the beaker. The control group for part two was the original setup of the dialysis

tubing, and the experimental group was the setup after the experiment was complete (iodine,

starch and water). A hypothesis for part one is; if there is more glucose inside of dialysis tubing

then after the pre-determined time, it will weigh more than the dialysis tubes with less glucose

outside. A hypothesis for part two is; if the iodine is placed in the beaker but outside of the

dialysis, then it will spread enter into the cell tubing through passive transport and change the

color of the dialysis tubing.

MATERIALS

 6 Beakers

 Water

 20% glucose solution

 40% glucose solution

 60% glucose solution

 80% glucose solution

 Dialysis tubing

 Ribbon ties

 Pipet

 Scale
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 Paper towels

 Iodine

 Paper and pencil

 Timer

PROCEDURE

Experiment 1:

1. Take 6 pieces of dialysis tubes that were soaking in water. Fold one side of the tube

hamburger style 1 cm from the end and fold over two more times. Tighten it by having a

partner tie a short piece of string over it.

2. Tie multiple knots on one end to secure the tube completely.

3. Open the other end of the tube and fill the bag:

a. 2 half full of water

b. 1 with 20% glucose

c. 1 with 40% glucose

d. 1 with 60% glucose

e. 1 with 80% glucose

4. After each bag is filled 5mL, close, fold and tie the bags tightly with a string. Do not tie

the tube completely – cells could grow, swell, or lose mass. Cut the additional string off

of the bags and place each bag on a paper towel. DO NOT MIX UP

5. Find mass of each bag individually using a scale. Record masses of each bag on paper.

6. Get 5 beakers and fill them with:

a. 4 beakers of water

b. 1 beaker of 60% solution

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7. Set timer for 3 minutes

8. Place bags in solutions:

a. 1 water bag in a water beaker

b. 20% bag in a water beaker

c. 40% bag in a water beaker

d. 60% bag in a water beaker

e. 1 water bag in 60% beaker

f. 80% bag in in 60% beaker

9. After 3 minutes take bags out, dry them off with a paper towel. Weigh each bag and

record all data.

10. Repeat steps 7-9 two more times and record all data.

Experiment 2:

1. Fold one side of the tube 1 cm from the end and tighten it by tying a short piece of string

over it.

2. Tie multiple knots to secure the tube completely.

3. Fill bag one with water

4. Repeat step 4 with remaining soultes; 20%, 40%, 60%, water, and 80%.

5. Add roughly 1 teaspoon starch solution to the tube.

6. Rinse bag with water to prevent spills. Set aside to dry after patting down with a paper

towel for a minute.

7. Fill a beaker ½ full with water.

8. Add 8 drops of iodine to the beaker with water.

9. Place the cell into the iodine filled water.

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10. Record the color of the cell in the beaker.

11. Remove the cell after about 15 minutes. Allow it to dry for a while.

12. Record the color change in the beaker.

Procedure information found in Diffusion through Cell Membrane packet.

RESULTS:

Table 1 – Data Results from Diffusion and Osmosis Lab

TABLE 1

Water in 20 % in 40% in 60% in Water in 80% in

Time Water Water Water Water 60% 60%
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 208 317 408 567 -150 241
6 291 534 800 1,009 -533 316
9 249 701 1,108 1,409 -783 399

Table 1 represents the mass of each cell before being tested on. It also shows the mass three

times after we tested them. After, being tested each column was averaged so each class was

using the same numbers.

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Graph 1 – Mass and Time

Graph 1 displays the rate of osmosis and mass of each bag overtime.

TIME (MINUTES)

1.8

1.2

Water in Water
0.6 20% in Water
40% in Water
Mass 60% in Water
(in grams) Water in 60%
0 80% in 60%

-0.6

-1.2
0 3 6 9
Discussion of Graph: This graph shows the overall results from the lab. After a six-minute

period, mass increased for water in water from 208 to 291. After three minutes however, it

decreased. It went to 249. The blue line on the graph displays this fall-to-rise. Mass was

increased for 20% in water from 317 to 534 all the way to 701. This is displayed on the graph as

the green line. Mass was increased a lot for 40%. It went from 408 all the way to finishing with

1,108. The orange line shows the increase in mass for 40%. 60% is shown in the graph by the

red line. This had the largest mass of all of the ones tested. It went from 567 to 1,009. It ended

with 1,409 after nine minutes. For water in 60% it went from -150 to -783. It is the purple line

displayed in the graph. Finally, 80% in 60% was shown in the graph as the grey line. The mass
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had a small, but constant increase ranging from 241 all the way to 399 by the end of the 9-minute

period. For part two, the tube turned a purple color. The water stayed somewhat the same but

due to the leakage of the iodine, the water was tinted slightly purple.

DISCUSSION

Mass changed in each bag after every trial. Concentration gradient was the main element

in each difference of mass. In passive transport, it is not uncommon for molecules move to lower

concentration gradients. Rate of osmosis is affected by the concentration gradient as well. The

rate of osmosis drops for a period of time and eventually becomes stable as the cell gets closer to

reaching equilibrium. The first trial had greater mass change until the last two-time trials. The

rate of change was balanced. This was because the gradient was higher. When the cell is first

placed into hypertonic or hypotonic environments, the molecules tend to react fast and attempt to

reach equilibrium just as quick. The 0-3-minute time trial with the 80/60 and 20/0 bags had

different mass after the first-time trial, but the same concentration gradient. The 20/0 bag could

have possibly gained more weight because it’s easier for the molecules to recognize a low

concentration such as 0 over something such as 60. Possible errors may have been the amount of

iodine in each beaker, not completely drying the tubing, the tubing could have been not

completely tight, and timing could’ve been off. If this lab was to be performed again to be better,

a change would be tying each tubing more than once to ensure the bags security.
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REFERENCES

1. Brundage, Adrienne. “Hypotonic Solution.” Educational Portal. Web. 5 Jan. 2015.

https://study.com/academy/lesson/hypotonic-solution-definition-example-diagram.html

2. Diffusion through Cell Membrane packet.

3. Hypertonic and Hypotonic Environments. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www2.hawaii.edu/~johnb/micro/m140/syllabus/week/handouts/m140.9.2.html

4. Selective permeability. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.biology-

online.org/dictionary/Selective_permeability