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4. Cells And Tissues  eLearn.Punjab

Osmosis and Guard cells

Stomata (openings) in leaf epidermis are surrounded by guard cells. During daytime guards cells
are making glucose and so are hypertonic (have higher concentration of glucose) than their nearby
epidermis cells. Water enters them from other cells and they swell. In this form, they assume a rigid
bowed shape and a pore is created between them. At night when there is low solute concentration
in guard cells, water leaves them and they become flaccid. In this form, both guard cells rest against
one another and the opening is closed.

Application of knowledge about semi-permeable membranes

The knowledge about semi-permeable membranes is applied for various purposes. We know that
semi-permeable membrane is capable of separating substances. Artificially synthesized semi-
permeable membranes are used for the separation of bacteria from viruses, because bacteria
cannot cross a semi-permeable membrane. In advanced water-treatment technologies, membrane-
based filtration systems are used. In this process, semi-permeable membranes separate salts from
water (reverse osmosis).

Filtration

Filtration is a process by which small molecules are forced to move across semipermeable membrane
with the aid of hydrostatic (water) pressure or blood pressure.

The turgor of cells is responsible for maintaining shapes of non-
woody plants and soft portions of trees and shrubs.

Explain why it is not enough just to say that a solution is “hypertonoc“.

Hypertonic and hypotonic are relative terms. therefore you must say what the solution
                                                                                                   is compared to.

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