Osmosis and Transport

 

Carl Stiefbold

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2014, Volume 35

Abstract

Rabbit red blood cells (RBCs) are used to study osmosis and membrane transport. In Activity 1, students study red blood cells as osmometers, devices with which they can estimate the relative osmolarity of solutions using a spectrophotometer. Students use their results to estimate the water content of RBCs. Activity 2 explores the relative permeability of RBC membranes to glycerol and the transport of glycerol into RBCs. Activity 3 looks at the facilitated diffusion of electrolytes using the antibiotic valinomycin as a mobile carrier of K+ ions and Activity 4 examines water movement across cell membranes via aquaporin protein complexes.

Keywords:  osmosis, rabbit red blood cells, transport, valinomycin, aquaporin

University of Calgary (2013)