OSMOSIS AND DIFFUSION

MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
UDBB1104 CELL BIOLOGY

PROPASAL SUBMITTED IN FULFILLMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENT FOR
THE SUB-TOPICAL PRESENTATION OF CELL BIOLOGY
Theme and Background

In cellular biology, the regulation of ions, macromolecules and water

depends on a lipid membrane. Composed of two layers of lipids, the
phospholipid bilayer that separates each cell from the surrounding world is
generally impermeable to ions and macromolecules. Known as fluid mosaic
model, the membranes have dual layer of lipids that act as two-dimensional
fluids, with each lipid has a polar group that formed the structure of
membrane bilayer. The polar group is simple, one facing the surrounding is
hydrophilic head that is insoluble in water surrounding and one facing
inward, the hydrophobic tail which fears the water. (Pollard, 2008)

Generally speaking, water is essential to humanity as the basic body of

human, cells contain 78% of water. In this subtopic, this chapter deals with
osmosis and diffusion, of which osmosis is mainly the regulation process of
which the water molecules move though a semipermeable from a region of
lower solute concentration to an area of higher concentration. In a nut shell,
osmosis is the passive transport of water. On the other hand, Diffusion is the
movement of molecules from a higher concentration gradient to a lower
concentration gradient until equilibrium is achieved and they are distributed
equally. (S.Mader, 2010)
Objectives

The objectives of the presentation are as follows

 To enable fellow students to distinguish between diffusion and

osmosis
 To explain the importance of diffusion and osmosis in living
organisms.
 To construct a strong fundamental knowledge and concept in
osmosis and diffusion.

Group Members

Name Student ID Character

Chew Kai Yuan 1703767

Seah Zi Wang 1701578

Tan Jing Hao 1701577

Choo Yi Xuan 1702026

Chew Wen Na 1600881

Oon Xin Thng 1703806

Lim Jit Min 1703249

Hiew Cha Qi 1602604

Chong Jie Lin 1605257

Lee Kai Yang 1802707

Lim Jun Hong 1801358

Presentation Slide Contents

Passive transport across a membrane

Diffusion is the movement of molecules from a higher concentration

gradient to a lower concentration gradient until equilibrium is achieved and
they are distributed equally. For example, when a crystal of dye are put into
water, the dye and water move in various directions, but their net
movement is toward the low concentration gradient. The dye dissolved in
water, resulting in equilibrium and a coloured solution. When equilibrium
is achieved, the water and dye molecule continue to move, but there is no
net movement of either molecule in any direction.
Plasma membrane only allow few types of molecule to enter and exit a cell
simply by diffusion due to its chemical and physical properties. Gases can
diffuse through the lipid bilayer of plasma membrane, this is the
mechanism by which oxygen enters cell and carbon dioxide exits cells.
Factor that influence rate of diffusion:
1. Temperature- as temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the
particles increases, particles with more energy bounce against each
other more frequently and spread evenly throughout the space.
(JoshSimon, 2018)

2. Distance between two points of diffusion – the longer distance

between the two points of diffusion the more time it needs for the
molecule to arrive, and hence the less the rate of diffusion. (Eada,
2015)
 3. Molecular size -the greater the size of the molecule the higher the
inertia it has so the less the rate of diffusion. (Eada, 2015)

Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecule across selectively permeable

membrane due to the concentration differences. Water diffuse into the
region which have higher concentration of solute due to the osmotic
pressure. Osmotic pressure is the pressure develop in a system due to
osmosis. The greater the osmotic pressure, more likely the water will
diffuse in that direction.

Isotonic solution
Isotonic solution is the solution that have the solute concentration and water
concentration both inside and outside the cell are equal, therefore no gain
or loss of water.
Hypotonic solution
Solution that cause cell to swell or burst due to intake of water, the solution
has lower solute concentration compared to the cell. Is a cell is placed into
the hypotonic solution, the net movement of water is from outside into the
cell.
Cytolysis refer to disrupted cell
Haemolysis refer to disrupted red blood cell
The swelling of plant cell in hypotonic solution creates turgor pressure.
Turgor pressure are built up by the intake of water into the vacuole of plant
cell and pushed the plasma membrane against cell wall.
Hypertonic solution
Solution that cause cell to shrink due to loss of water, the solution have
higher solute concentration than the cell. Water leaves the cell when placed
in hypertonic solution.
Crenation is the process refers to red blood cell that shrink due to loss of
water into the surrounding
Plasmolysis refers to the process of plasma membrane of plant cell pulled
away from the cell wall as large central vacuole loses water.

(S.Mader, 2010)