Help required with Osmotic Pressure

[Graham Shepherd]

SarahUKTV wrote in message <7hsihs$e4$1 at uranium.btinternet.com>...
>hi everyone,
>
>I am an A level Biology student in the UK. I have completed an assignment,
>but am left wondering about it's real-world applicability.
>
>A potato tuber cell is placed in a sucrose solution (the molarity of which,
>although irrelevant to my question  here, is approx. 0.5 M), such that the
>cell is in osmotic equilibrium with the surrounding solution. Having worked
>out the equal (Psi) cell and (Psi) solution pressure in kiloPascals I am
>asked the biological significance of this information.
>
>My question is, how is this information applicable to real-life
situations -
>if at all - in the home, industry, nature etc.
>
>Can anyone help me with this? Quoting examples would be particularly
useful.

>
>Thanks
>
>James
>
>

You might ponder what insight this give into energy costs of synthesising
storage molecules (starches, for example) compared to the energy required to
maintain high concentrations of soluble nutrients inside the cell. Look at
how methods of food preservation work - drying, salting, jam-making, for
example: then look at methods of tissue preservation - blood for
transfusion, organs for transplantation, plant tissue for propagation. You
might also consider energy costs involved in desalinating water for
drinking.

GS