Cell Function
How do cells coordinate activities within their internal environment and the external
environment?
investigate the way in which materials can move into and out of cells, including but not limited to:
conducting a practical investigation modelling diffusion and osmosis (ACSBL046)
Diffusion and osmosis are both forms of passive transport. This means that they do not use any energy and are driven by the concentration gradient.
Quick reminder a solution (e.g. salty water) is made up of a solute (e.g. salt) dissolved in a solvent (e.g. water)
Osmosis is the movement of a solvent from a high concentration of solvent to a low concentration of solvent. (Note: This isn’t how we usually think about concentration as concentration is usually defined by the solute) In other words from a low concentration solution to a high concentration solution. This only occurs across a semipermeable membrane (Permeable to the solvent but impermeable to the solute).
Diffusion is the movement of of a solute from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. This may occur across a membrane, provided that the solute is permeable (able to pass through) to the membrane.
examining the roles of active transport, endocytosis and exocytosis (ACSBL046)
relating the exchange of materials across membranes to the surface-area-to-volume ratio, concentration gradients and characteristics of the materials being exchanged (ACSBL047)
In this experiment we look at an example of osmosis in potato cells.
investigate cell requirements, including but not limited to:
suitable forms of energy, including light energy and chemical energy in complex molecules (ACSBL044)
matter, including gases, simple nutrients and ions
removal of wastes (ACSBL044)
investigate the biochemical processes of photosynthesis, cell respiration and the removal of cellular products and wastes in eukaryotic cells (ACSBL049, ACSBL050, ACSBL052, ACSBL053)
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conduct a practical investigation to model the action of enzymes in cells (ACSBL050)
This is an experimental dotpoint. However it is first important to know what enzymes are and how they work.
Enzymes are biological catalysts that work on an substrate to produce a product.
As a catalyst they are not used up during the reaction. However, being biological results in them being effected by multiple factors.
There are a number of experiments you could design using common enzymes common examples are;
renin on milk
catalase on hydrogen peroxide
investigate the effects of the environment on enzyme activity through the collection of primary or secondary data (ACSBL050, ACSBL051)