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What conditions make a cell swell?
Animal cells will swell when they are placed in a hypotonic solution (i.e., one in which the concentration of solutes is lower than it is in the cytosol). Some cells, such as erythrocytes, will actually burst as water enters them by osmotic flow.
What infection causes cells to burst?
Bacteriophage infections Bacteriophages, just like other viruses, must infect a host cell in order to reproduce. The steps that make up the infection process are collectively called the lifecycle of the phage. Some phages can only reproduce via a lytic lifecycle, in which they burst and kill their host cells.
What causes cells to swell and burst?
A cell that does not have a rigid cell wall, such as a red blood cell, will swell and lyse (burst) when placed in a hypotonic solution. Cells with a cell wall will swell when placed in a hypotonic solution, but once the cell is turgid (firm), the tough cell wall prevents any more water from entering the cell.
What’s it called when a cell bursts?
Cytolysis, or osmotic lysis, occurs when a cell bursts due to an osmotic imbalance that has caused excess water to diffuse into the cell. The presence of a cell wall prevents the membrane from bursting, so cytolysis only occurs in animal and protozoa cells which do not have cell walls.
What is hypotonic condition?
A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes than another solution. In biology, a solution outside of a cell is called hypotonic if it has a lower concentration of solutes relative to the cytosol. Due to osmotic pressure, water diffuses into the cell, and the cell often appears turgid, or bloated.
What is it called when cells burst?
What happens if your cells burst?
Cytolysis, also known as osmotic lysis, occurs when a cell bursts and releases its contents into the extracellular environment due to a great influx of water into the cell, far exceeding the capacity of the cell membrane to contain the extra volume.
What is called diffusion?
Diffusion is the process of movement of molecules under a concentration gradient. The molecules move from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration until the concentration becomes equal throughout. Liquid and gases undergo diffusion as the molecules are able to move randomly.
What is tonicity and how does it affect the condition of the cell?
The tonicity of a solution is related to its effect on the volume of a cell. Solutions that do not change the volume of a cell are said to be isotonic. A hypotonic solution causes a cell to swell, whereas a hypertonic solution causes a cell to shrink.