Biology Info Sheet 18.11.23

Questions
1. What features would enable a scientist to distinguish a microbe cell from other cells when
viewed under a microscope?
The lack of membrane bound organelles, specifically the nucleus and the mitochondria.
2. Why does cell specialisation occur in large multicellular organisms but not in small unicellular
organisms?
Unicellular organisms are able to perform all life functions within a single cell,mulitcellurar
organisms need many different cells performing many different functions to carry out the
same life functions,
3. What is a tissue?
Cells specialised to carry out a particular function then work together in groups called tissues
4. Name TWO different tissues found in animals and TWO different tissues found in plants and
give the functions of EACH.
5. Define the term ‘diffusion’.
6. Cite FOUR reasons to support the fact that diffusion is important to living organisms
Osmosis
Osmosis is a special form of diffusion. Osmosis is the movement of water molecules through a
differentially permeable membrane from a solution containing a lot of water molecules, e.g. a dilute
solution (or water), to a solution containing fewer water molecules, e.g. a concentrated solution.
In any cell, the cell membrane is differentially permeable. There is always cytoplasm, a solution of
protein and other substances in water, on the inside of the membrane and usually a solution on the
outside. Water molecules, therefore, move into and out of cells by osmosis.
Hypotonic Solution:
Definition: A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the cell's
cytoplasm.
Animal Cell: In an animal cell, water will move into the cell due to osmosis. This can cause the cell to
swell and potentially burst (lyse) if the excess water is not properly regulated. Animal cells do not
have a rigid cell wall, so they are more susceptible to changes in osmotic pressure.
Plant Cell: In a plant cell, the cell wall provides structural support. The cell will take up water and
become turgid, but it is less likely to burst. This is because the rigid cell wall exerts pressure on the
cell membrane, preventing excessive swelling.
Hypertonic Solution:
Definition: A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the cell's
cytoplasm.
Animal Cell: In an animal cell, water will move out of the cell, causing it to shrink or shrivel (crenate).
The cell loses water to the surrounding hypertonic environment, leading to a decrease in cell volume.
Plant Cell: In a plant cell, water will move out as well. The cell membrane detaches from the cell wall,
and the cell undergoes plasmolysis (shrinking away from the cell wall). The plant wilts as a result of
the loss of turgor pressure.
Isotonic Solution:
Definition: An isotonic solution has the same concentration of solutes as the cell's cytoplasm.
Animal Cell: In an animal cell, there is no net movement of water. The cell remains stable and
maintains its normal shape and size.
Plant Cell: In a plant cell, an isotonic solution is also balanced. The cell maintains its shape, and there
is no net movement of water. The plant cell is flaccid (not turgid), and the cell wall may not be fully
pressed against the cell membrane.
The Importance of Osmosis in Living Organisms
• All cells are kept hydrated by water moving into them by osmosis.
• Plant cells are kept turgid by water moving into them by osmosis. This causes non-woody stems to
stand upright and keeps leaves firm.
• Water is kept moving through plants by osmosis occurring in the cells of roots and leaves. This
ensures that leaves get water for photosynthesis.
• The size of stomatal pores is regulated by osmosis occurring in the guard cells. This controls the loss
of water from the leaves of plants.
• Water is reabsorbed into the blood from the filtrate in the kidney tubules by osmosis. This prevents
the body from losing too much water.
Concentration Gradient
A concentration gradient refers to the difference in the concentration of a substance between two
regions.
When substances move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, they
are said to move down or along the concentration gradient. This movement occurs passively, driven
by processes such as diffusion or osmosis. These processes aim to achieve equilibrium, where the
concentration of a substance is the same on both sides of the membrane.
Active transport
During active transport, particles move through membranes against a concentration gradient. Energy
produced in respiration is used to move the particles through the membranes from areas of lower
concentration to areas of higher concentration. Active transport allows cells to accumulate high
concentrations of important substances, e.g., glucose, amino acids, and ions.
The importance of active transport in living organisms
• Mineral ions move from the soil into plant roots by active transport.
• Sugars produced in photosynthesis move into the phloem in leaves by active transport.
• Some of the glucose and amino acids produced in digestion are absorbed from the ileum into the
blood by active transport.
• Useful substances are reabsorbed from the filtrate in the kidney tubules into the blood by active
transport.

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The importance of active transport in living organisms

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