Experiments with Membranes, Osmosis& Selective Transport By Amanda M. Icazatti-Burtell

Cells are the smallest functional unit of life in all living organisms. Every cell is composed of organelles, each of which has a specific function in mediating the cell’s cycle. The cell membrane acts as a protector of the cell and its organelles. It also transports specific ions and organic molecules in and out the cell. The cell membrane is composed of a phospholipid bilayer and a group of proteins within it. As a transport method, the cell uses osmosis and selective transport to transfer molecules from the outside to the inside of the cell or vice versa. Osmosis is the flow of solvent from a solution of a lower solute concentration to one of a higher solute concentration. This process is possible by a selective membrane, a membrane that selectively allows some substances to pass through but not others.

The goal in this experiment is to investigate and study how the composition of the cell membrane is related to the rates at which osmosis and selective transport occur in the cell. As a substitute of a cell, droplets of water are used to mimic the cell membrane. Each droplet would create a lipid monolayer, but by pairing two droplets a bilayer model will form. A group of droplets would contain salts and others would not. This would let us appreciate the net flow that occurs as osmosis happens. Another group of droplets would be dyed and others would not, so that the effect of selective transport can be observed. The water droplets are placed in an oil solution. Since water and oil do not mix, the purpose of the experiment would be achieved.

All the materials needed for this experiment are abbreviated as the MOST kit. This kit includes an USB microscope that would help us have a better view of what is happening, a platform, and a DIB chip, where the droplets would be placed.

Investigating about the behavior of membranes and studying how different things happen within them could help in the development of therapies to improve membranes functioning or any deficit that the cell may present. In addition, this can work in society’s favor to improve health issues caused by factors that may influence in the of membranes in respond to a stimuli.