Lil' Plant Cell

Create a visual representation/model (ie. graph or diagram) to make predictions about the exchange of molecules between an organism and its environment, the use of these molecules (ie. CHNOPS and incorporation into carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, membrane structure, genetic information, etc.), and consequences to the organism if these molecules cannot be obtained.

Take a plant cell and put it in an isotonic solution. Take an animal cell and put it in the same isotonic solution. Which one is happier? The animal cell! [Take a look at ‘-tonic’ under Ch 7 yo understand why] With this in mind, understand that the plant cell is somewhat soft and limp because it is not in the ideal state of absorbing water and water soluble molecules, such as carbohydrates. The plant cell is not retaining the full amount of molecules it needs to be efficient at providing energy and structure to the whole plant. If this continues, and the solution changes to become a hypertonic solution, there will be no water retained in the plant cell, and it will become very limp and quite squishy. As a result, it will have a hard time creating energy and providing structure to the plant. If all plant cells end up like this within a plant, the plant may rot and die from lack of water.