Week 1: Physiology Lab Exercise 1: Cell Transport Mechanisms and Permeability 11

1.   As the MWCO of the membrane increased, did the number of solutes able to diffuse through the membrane increase or decrease? Explain your answer.

Na+CI- 


2.   Identify the solute with the highest molecular weight and justify your answer based on the results in the table.

The solutes with the highest molecular weight are Glucose and Albumium

3.   Did the rate of diffusion for NaCl increase as the MWCO of the membrane increased? Why or why not?

The rate of diffusion for NaCI increased as the MWCO of the membrane increased because


Connections to Human Physiology  (3 pts each)

4.   In future units, you will explore respiration—the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide across respiratory membranes such as those found in the lungs—but the principles of diffusion in this laboratory provide some insight on that process now. The molecular weight of carbon dioxide is 44.01g/mol and the molecular weight of oxygen is 32g/mol. Of the membranes used in this lab, which has the smallest MWCO that would allow oxygen to diffuse in and carbon dioxide to diffuse out of the bloodstream? Explain your answer.


5.   What is the primary physiological complication for an individual born with a genetic abnormality resulting in a respiratory membrane with a MWCO of 37 g/mol?


6.   Carbon Monoxide has a molecular weight of 28.01/g/mol. If carbon monoxide is present in an environment, would it diffuse into the bloodstream faster, slower, or at the same rate as oxygen? Explain your answer.