Cellular Transport Mechanisms

1. In a single sentence, describe the function of the cell membrane.

Rationalethis question addresses the functions of the cell membrane. Where materials enter and exit
cells is foundational for this unit, so it is important that students know this piece of information.
2. Label the diagram of blood cells in solution below with the terms Hypertonic, Isotonic, and
Hypotonic.

Rationalethis question addresses how well students understand osmosis, after our case study on
Hyponatremia, and an osmosis lab activity.
3. Select the best response. In diffusion, a substance moves
a. Against its concentration Gradient
b. From an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration
c. Independent of its concentration gradient
d. Down its concentration gradient
RationaleMovement down concentration gradients is the most basic feature of diffusion. It applies to
both passive transport in cells and the diffusion of particles in solutions in a general sense.
4. Select the best response. To move materials across a cell membrane via active transport requires
a. A concentration gradient
b. Osmosis
c. ATP Energy
d. Nuclear pores
RationaleMovement against a concentration gradient, requiring energy input, is the most basic feature
of active transport in cells.
5. In two sentences, describe how do cells utilize endocytosis to protect the body from foreign
substances like bacteria or viruses?
RationaleTransport in vesicles is an additional method and exporting substances in cells, and it relates
directly to membrane structure discussed at the beginning of the unit.

6. Define a concentration gradient by writing a short description or drawing a picture that illustrates
what it is.
Rationaleall cellular transport mechanisms are governed by the physical properties of concentration
gradients. It is critical to understand this in order to understand transport.
7. In thirteen words, describe how active transport is different from passive transport
Rationale: being able to write a summary of the differences between the two forms of transport is a good
indication of how well students understand the concept.
8. In 1-2 sentences, describe how equilibrium and homeostasis are related.
Rationale: All transport mechanisms are for the purpose of helping the cell maintain equilibrium or
homeostasis. This is the reason why we talk about transport mechanisms in Biology
9. Compare and contrast osmosis and simple diffusion in the Venn diagram below.

Simple Diffusion

Osmosis

Rationale: Osmosis is a form of diffusion, but telling the two apart can be confusing for students since
one deals with water balance and one deals with particles in solution. Its important to know the
difference if you are going to accurately identify tonicity of solutions.
10. Select the best response. A solution is
a. A substance to be dissolved in a liquid or gas media
b. The answer to a problem.
c. A mixture in which one or more substances are evenly distributed in another substance.
d. None of the above
Rationale: An understanding of solutions is another bedrock concept for understanding osmosis and
diffusion.
11. Indicate which direction the black dots in the concentration gradient would move if they are
transported across a cell membrane by simple diffusion.

Rationale: We discussed concentration gradients frequently in our unit, and students should be well
acquainted with how substances move in passive transport.
12. Select the best response. Animals maintain an appropriate water balance by regulating the
amount of water they consume and the amount of fluid they excrete as urine. This process of
regulating the bodys internal environment is called
a. Hyponatremia
b. Respiration
c. Metabolism
d. Homeostasis
Rationale: This question both addresses the essential question for the unit about balance, and references
the case study we completed about Hyponatremia and osmosis.
13. What is selective permeability, and how does it relate to cells maintaining homeostasis?
Rationalethis question addresses the characteristics of the membrane, and how it functions as the
gatekeeper for the cell, managing what comes in and out. The cell membrane plays a large role in
maintaining homeostasis in cells.
14. Draw a diagram of the phospholipid bilayer. Label the hydrophilic and hydrophobic components
of the phospholipids. Diagram and label other molecules present in the bilayer. Label the
substance(s) inside and outside the cell.
Rationalethe structure of the cell membrane permits the cell to function the way that it does. It is
important for students to understand how the molecules fit together, so that they can understand the
mechanics of active and passive transport. This concept also ties to their prior knowledge about
biological molecules (lipids) from earlier in the year.
15. For this question, choose one of the following options. Describe the importance of the
importance of surface area in relation to the volume of a cell by:
o Writing a paragraph (at least 4 sentences) describing how the surface area of a cell relates to
the volume of a cell and how it functions.
OR
o Drawing a diagram that shows the relationship between surface area and volume in cell
function.
Rationaleas cells get larger, the volume of a cell increases disproportionately to the surface area.
Surface area is needed to facilitate transport. The bigger a cell gets, the more volume it has, but the

relative amount of surface area decreases. Cells are small because the amount of surface are provides
enough opportunity for transport across the membrane to provide the cell with the materials it needs to
function, at a reasonable energetic cost.
16. Describe the features of the phospholipid bilayer (cell membrane) that the Fluid-Mosaic Model
refers to.
Rationale: The Fluid-Mosaic Model is something we talked about to help students visualize the structure
of the phospholipid bilayer. The PL Bilayer behaves like a liquid because it is so flexible, and it looks
like a mosaic with all of the proteins attached to it in geometric patterns.
17. Ms. Spector wants to estimate the size of a plant cell at high power under a microscope. She
knows that the low power magnification is 4, the high power magnification is 400, and the
diameter of the low power field of view is 4000m.
a. What is the diameter of the high power field of view in m? Use the formula below and
show all of your work on your answer sheet

High Power Diameter =

Low Power Maginfication x Low power Diameter

High Power Magnification

b. What is the approximate size in m of one plant cell at high power? (Hint: look at the
cell membrane/wall to find one cell)

18. In 2-3 sentences, describe one of the ways that viruses trick cells into letting them pass the cell
membrane, and how the introduction of a virus can upset the homeostasis of a cell.