1st Semester 2 - BIOLOGY JUNCTION

What You Need to Know About Becoming a Biology Major

People choose to major in Biology for reasons that go beyond a fascination with living organisms. So, what’s so special about that? In essence, it satisfies a deep curiosity about life and answers fundamental questions about the natural world. And, that’s not it. On top of that, many are motivated by a desire to make a meaningful impact. There are various ways to do that, whether through medicine, conservation, or research. However, this field is very complicated. Thanks to its challenges, people can experience a sense of accomplishment. At the end of the day, mastering complex topics fosters resilience and growth. But the question is “How to handle those challenges successfully?” Read a simple answer below.

Handling Challenges in Education

What is a Biology major path? To be fair enough, the academic journey is as demanding as it is rewarding. If you want to become a Biology major, you must understand that this path will be filled with challenging courses and rigorous research projects. And of course, this overwhelming workload can lead to intense reactions to stress. So, if you don’t want to face the negative consequences of that, you should learn how to balance work, exams, and writing assignments. The best way to do that is by using additional support. For me personally, the best solution was to pay someone to write my essay so that I could submit it on time without sacrificing sleep. Thanks to Edubirdie which provides online academic assistance, I could keep my passion for Biology alive and manage all my responsibilities. But it’s far not everything that you must know. Read more about this educational journey below.

Confronting the Boundaries of Control

If you think about what lessons biology teaches us, it would be a lot about control. It shows us that life is governed by forces beyond our control, such as evolution, genetic inheritance, and ecological interactions. Sometimes, it can feel frustrating but it’s better to learn this lesson as soon as possible. While pursuing a major in Biology, many young people come up against the limits of human influence and are reminded of the fragility that underlies all living systems. Of course, this can evoke discomfort, but it’s worth facing. This is a necessary confrontation with reality that forces a deeper recognition of what it means to be alive. It forces a deeper recognition of what it means to be alive, so we can keep our hearts soft and open.

Searching for Meaning in Complexity

Any Biology student would confirm that the allure of this science lies not in its simplicity but in its intricacy. To be more accurate, the field doesn’t shy away from the messiness of life; rather, it delves into it. Researchers bravely accept the challenges presented by this field and delve into the messiness of life. They dedicate huge amounts of time to examining the interconnections between organisms and their environments. They also explore the emergence of consciousness, and the process of decay and renewal, which are so exciting for curious minds. By the way, have you ever thought that there is often an underlying need to find meaning amid this complexity for those drawn to this major? Just reflect on that and you’ll notice how you not just seek answers but strive for understanding your place in a world where change is the only constant. Thus, Biology becomes a way of coming to terms with the ever-changing nature of life.

Growth Through Tension and Struggle

If you study Biology, you must be prepared for the fact that this path is fraught with challenges. Just imagine yourself in a laboratory and recall all the failed experiments, difficult concepts, and unexpected outcomes. Sounds pretty scary, isn’t it? Yet, these struggles are not just obstacles to overcome. If we look at them from another perspective, they are the very ground upon which growth takes place. Without setbacks, we wouldn’t progress that much. In general, each setback invites reflection and each obstacle demands adaptation. This is an exciting ongoing process where you come to realize that growth is forged through moments of tension. It’s a valuable life lesson that Biology can teach you. Hence, the pursuit of understanding biology, then, is a lived experience of questioning and reimagining what is possible.

Final Thoughts

So, is biology hard? Definitely, yes. But it should not scare you away. If you pick a Biology program, you will not regret it. In fact, you need to know about both rewards and challenges before applying for a major in Biology. Hopefully, this article has inspired you to follow your passion!

Author’s BIO

Mattew Stoll is a personal tutor and content writer. He works with high school graduates and college students to help them achieve outstanding results in their education. Matthew believes that we all need to explore our full potential in academic settings, so his mission is to help with that.

8 Most Useful Bill Nye Videos To Watch

-Even if you are in college.

Bill Nye the Science Guy hasn’t produced new episodes since the end of Season 5 in 1998, but the show’s namesake host remains active in the promotion of science – and many of his videos remain outstanding content to watch even if you’re in College (or beyond).

Here at Biology Junction, our focus is on our own namesake subject, and that’s what this list focuses on – but for those of you who came here for a more general list, we’ve also included a few non-Biology videos down at the bottom. These videos are helpful regardless of what type of science you’re interested in, so everyone should take a look at them.

How We Chose These Videos

What good is a list without an explanation of how we made it? It wouldn’t be good science if we just threw it up here! Truth is, though, creating this list wasn’t very hard. First, we narrowed our list of sources to the best selections of Bill Nye videos – his classic show and the more-recent Greatest Discoveries series.

Next, we considered how useful each topic is to know. For students studying biology, it does no good to dive into topics more advanced than you’re ready for. Fortunately, most of Bill Nye’s videos are accessible even to beginners and provide a strong foundation for the topic. This ended up being a minor concern, but we were determined to go through the process.

Finally, we checked for the availability of videos. It doesn’t help to be told to watch a video if you can’t find it. A simple search should be enough to locate any of the videos on this list. If that fails, you should be able to get them from your library or preferred streaming service. We had a preference for videos that are freely available since budgets can be tight in college, but that didn’t significantly impact this list.

For our non-Biology videos, we used a similar process. Instead of emphasizing Biology, though, we decided to focus on the foundations of science and the information that’s most useful for everyone to know.

The Best Biology Videos From Bill Nye

Here are our top choices for Biology videos.

1: Biodiversity (S1 E9)

Biodiversity is the 9th episode of Bill Nye the Science Guy, and while it’s not the first to feature a Biology topic, we think it’s easily one of the most important episodes. This video focuses on more than just where things live – it also explains the concept of ecosystems and how important it is to have a variety of living things in each area.

Arguably the most important lesson of this episode is understanding that ecosystems are far more complex than figuring out which living things eat each other. Each part of an ecosystem affects all of the other parts. That’s why we have to be so careful when introducing plants or animals to new habitats – if the ecosystem isn’t ready to handle it, the whole thing could collapse.

A second lesson to focus on is how ecosystems can vary in size – and, in many cases, overlap each other. The Great Barrier Reef has its own ecosystem, but it’s part of the larger Pacific Ocean – and from there, it ultimately affects all life on the planet (even if the impact isn’t obvious).

Understanding biodiversity is critical to understanding biology as a whole. Life does not exist in a vacuum – not unless we put it there, anyway. Environments affect life and vice versa, and if you want to understand why something is the way it is, you have to look at the bigger picture.

2: Cells (S1 E17)

Cells are a fundamental component of life – and even if you think you understand them, it’s good to get a refresher on the topic before you start your studies. The main reason for this is that when we say something “affects an organ”, what we mean is “it affects certain cells of the organ in a particular way”.

For example, if you want to understand why too much alcohol can hurt the liver, you need to look at its impact on the cells of the liver. If you want to heal that liver when you’re done, you have to figure out what will encourage the cells to do that. Cells are the ultimate “micro” topic in biology, making the Bill Nye cells video easily one of the most important episodes for biologists to watch.

3: Food Web (S2 E6)

It’s hard to talk about biology without eventually talking about food – but how things get their food is a little more complicated. Only watch this video after you’ve watched Biodiversity, because that video provides some important groundwork for this topic.

The short version is that a food web describes how each part of an ecosystem gets its food. Ultimately, each living thing gets food either from other living things (like insects, plants, or rodents) or from the sun. Every living creature is ultimately dependent on plants – who, let’s not forget, are often nourished by the uneaten bodies of dead creatures.

(If you’re having flashbacks to a certain Disney movie about a young lion, there’s a reason for that – the Circle of Life, where living things depend on each other, is quite real.) Watch Food Web

4: Plants (S3 E3)

Given how important plants are to the previous video, now’s a good time to get a refresher on what they are, how they work, and what sort of impact they have on our lives. The crazy thing is how plants can synthesize their own food as long as they have sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide – though healthy soil and a few other nutrients certainly help.

Plants are also important for their impact on other aspects of Biology. For example, many medicines are made from plants or plant by-products and affect certain living things in specific ways. Once we understand how something works, we can start figuring out the best way to make use of it.

This is particularly helpful if you’re looking for a job with biology. Most of your work will likely involve seeing how various inputs (types of food, situations, etc.) affect living things, and plants will be a part of that. Studying life alone is a limited topic – but there are endless possibilities when studying the way things affect life.

5: Populations (S3 E19)

Populations are a group of similar living things living in a set area. We often refer to the population of the human race, but we may also talk about the population of a specific city, voting district, or another region.

In biology, the most important thing is understanding the populations of other living things, how they’ve changed over time, and what’s caused them to do so. As you learned in videos like Biodiversity and Food Web, living things all affect each other – and a sudden rise or drop in one population will ripple across the ecosystem and begin affecting other creatures.

There may not be as many fancy names or scientific terms here, but it’s still worth watching this video to ensure you have a good grasp of the fundamentals of biology.

6: Biology – Greatest Discoveries

Finally, Bill Nye’s Greatest Discoveries video on Biology rounds out the best videos on this topic with a look at 13 of the most important discoveries in biology. This includes a discussion on the discovery and impact of:

Microorganisms like bacteria, blood cells, and sperm
The Cell Nucleus that functions at the center point of most cells
Archaea, microorganisms that lack a cell nucleus but aren’t quite like bacteria
Cell Division, the process of growth and, in many ways, life itself
Sex Cells and how they differ from most other types of cells
Cell Differentiation and how different types of cells are made
Mitochondria, which are separate from cells but provide a critical function for metabolizing chemicals
The Krebs Cycle, which is how protein, fats, and sugars are turned into energy
Neurotransmission, which centralizes the body’s ability to control itself
Hormones, which are far more complicated than teenage urges
Photosynthesis, a process where light is turned into chemical energy
Ecosystems, a quick look back at larger ecological units
Tropical Biodiversity, or why warm and sunny places tend to have a much greater variety of life

Together, all of these are important for biologists to know.

The Best Overall Science Videos From Bill Nye

Whether or not you’re focused on biology, these videos are helpful for improving your overall understanding of science and are worth watching at any age.

1: Pseudoscience (S4 E9)

Many things that sound like science but aren’t. These things are often called pseudoscience, and learning how to recognize them is a valuable skill for any scientist. Fortunately, the entire topic can be brought down to a few simple principles.

First, science involves testing claims and ideas. If somebody says something can’t be tested, then it’s not within the realm of science and shouldn’t be treated as such. In those cases, it’s okay to say “perhaps we’ll never know for sure”.

Second, extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. In other words, the more important your claim is, the more you need to support it with verifiable evidence. As the person making a claim, it is your job to provide corresponding proof. It is not the job of others to demonstrate that you’re right.

Furthermore, your results should be reproducible. Proper science only happens when someone tries to prove you wrong – fairly, of course – and fails to do so. If you repeat an experiment and keep getting results, you don’t have any answers – just more questions to ask.

Finally, you should learn critical thinking. This graphic is especially helpful for that and provides many questions that help you uncover the truth. For example, when presented with a claim, you may want to figure out who benefits from it, what the best/worst case scenarios of it are, where it might be a problem or solution, what might make it unacceptable, why people might need it, and how to approach it safely.

In many cases, purveyors of pseudoscience are simply looking to profit from your ignorance. As a scientist, it is your duty to see past things like that and uncover the truth. Watch Pseudoscience now.

2: Measurement (S5 E17)

Coming in as one of the last episodes ever aired, Measurement is something that honestly should have been one of the first videos they made. Measuring things is critical to the foundations of science as a whole. Proper measurements provide objective, verifiable information using a common set of standards, and it’s impossible to overstate how important this is.

There are a few important things to learn from this video, Measurement.

First, there are many ways of measuring things. You can measure units (members of a population), dimensions (the size of something), time (how long it takes something to happen), effects (what happens), and many other topics.

Second, you’ll learn why things should be measured. It’s not just to expand the amount of information we have, though that’s valuable in and of itself. Instead, measurements help us understand what’s different about two subjects so we can proceed to uncover why and how that difference occurred.

Taken far enough, this can lead to discoveries, such as finding that one person in a neighborhood didn’t get sick because they ate a particular herb.

Measurements are almost never a focus in and of themselves – but they’re a vital part of most scientific activities. If you want to be a scientist, then you’re almost certainly going to do a lot of measurements over the course of your career. That makes this innocent-sounding video one of the most helpful episodes of Bill Nye.

5 Golden Rules of Successful Biology Research

Doing successful biology research is not as easy as it seems. There are 5 golden rules that you should always follow if you want to get the most out of your project. In this blog post, we will discuss these rules and provide some tips on how to implement them in your own work. So, whether you are just starting out in biology research or you have been doing it for years, be sure to read on!

Rule 1: Know Your Audience

When you’re doing research for a biology project, it’s important to keep your audience in mind. You’ll likely be presenting your findings to a teacher or classmates, so you’ll need to choose a topic that’s appropriate for their level of understanding.

For example, if you’re researching for a high school biology class, you wouldn’t want to write about something too complex or controversial. However, if you’re doing research for a college biology class, you can feel free to explore more complicated topics. In general, it’s always a great idea to check with your teacher before starting your research to make sure you’re on the right track. By taking the time to understand your audience, you’ll be able to create a more successful biology research project.

Rule 2: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Asking for help is a natural part of the research process. No one knows everything, and even the most experienced biologists need assistance from time to time. If you’re thinking, should I pay someone to write my research paper? The answer is, it depends. Research paper writing can be very challenging. Without the right tools, you might end up disappointed with your result. If you’re afraid that might happen, then the best thing to do is buy a research paper online. You could search for ‘write my research paper’ on your favorite engine and set up an appointment with a writing specialist.

You could also consult with a professor or other expert in the field. If you don’t know anyone who specializes in biology, you can try reaching out to a librarian or searching for online resources. Another great way to get help is to ask fellow students who might be working on similar projects. No matter how you choose to get help, don’t be afraid to ask for it when you need it. Doing so will allow you to make the most of your research and produce the best possible results.

Learn the 5 Golden Rules for Successful Biology Research

Rule 3: Pick a Topic That You Are Passionate About

When it comes to research, picking a topic that you’re passionate about can make all the difference. Not only will you be more likely to enjoy the process of research, but you’ll also be more likely to stick with it even when the going gets tough. And trust me, there will be tough times. There will be days when you feel like you’re getting nowhere when all your hard work seems to be for nothing.

But if you care about your topic, if you’re invested in finding out the answer to your question, then you’ll keep going. You’ll find a way to push through the difficult times and come out on the other side with new knowledge and a sense of accomplishment. So if you’re thinking about starting a research project, ask yourself: what is a topic that I’m passionate about? Once you have your answer, you’ll be one step closer to success.

Rule 4: Do Your Research

When you’re doing biology research, it’s important to do your research. That may sound like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people skimp on this step. They’ll read a few books or articles, maybe talk to a few experts, and then start writing. The problem is that they haven’t really taken the time to understand the topic inside and out. As a result, their work is often inaccurate or incompetent.

So if you’re serious about doing great, successful biology research, take the time to immerse yourself in the literature. Read everything you can get your hands on. Talk to as many experts as possible. And only when you have a thorough understanding of the topic should you start writing.

Rule 5: Stay Organized and Keep Track of Your Progress

As a biology researcher, it’s also important to stay organized and keep track of your progress. That way, you can avoid duplication of effort and make sure that you’re making the best use of your time. There are a few different ways to do this. First, make sure to keep records of your experiments. Note down what you did, the results you receive, and any observations you made.

Second, create a project plan that outlines the steps you need to take to complete your research. This will help you stay on track and identify any potential problems early on. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help online, from your supervisor or colleagues. They can offer valuable insights and feedback that can help improve the quality of your work!

10 Biology Jokes That’ll Make You Laugh Your Genes Off

Biology, while super informative and exciting to science junkies, can be a little dry. It can also be pretty intimidating. However, we’re going to look at the light side: biology jokes!

We definitely need to insert humor into biology. However, not literally into our biology. That could be painful. Or gassy.

We’ve scoured the web for the best biology jokes to add some fun to your life science. These biology jokes also will help you better learn and remember biological terms and concepts.

Jokes 101

Biology is the study of life. And comedy is the art of laughing at the ups and downs of life. Comedy is a way of inserting humor into the serious. Jokes are often a way to relieve tension and stress.

Learning biology is easy and exciting for some. It’s tough and intimidating for others. Humor unites us all. Some truly funny biology jokes will not just get you laughing but help you learn to enjoy the concepts of life science.

Now, while knowing a couple of biology jokes isn’t going to make you a stand-up comedian, they just might help you remember important key terms and help you ace your next exam.

The Science of Funny

What makes things funny? Writing good biology jokes is not just about inserting biology terms or talking about farts. Good jokes are about playing with expectations.

You capitalize on the fact that words have double meanings. You play with expectations and add that little something extra.

In comedy, you play with the way people read or think about things. You make light of the different levels of meaning words or ideas have to give everyone’s brain a little tickle. Comedy is about relieving tension and sometimes you play with where people’s minds may go in order to get them to let out a deep belly laugh. So, onto the list!

The 10 Best Biology Jokes

What did the Femur say to the Patella?
Which Biochemicals Wash up on Beaches?
What is Blood’s Message to the World?
What do You Call a Member of the Financial Staff of the Faculty of Biology?
Why are men sexier than women?
What do You Call a Microbiologist who has Visited 30 Different Countries and Speaks 6 Languages?
Is there a Big Difference Between Male and Female Anatomy?
What did One Cell Say to His Sister Cell When She Stepped on His Toe?
How does Juliet Maintain a Constant Body Temperature?
Why didn’t the Dendrochronologist Ever Get Married?

What did the Femur say to the Patella?

I kneed you.

Joke Dissection

This joke is humorous because the femur is the thigh bone and the patella is the knee cap. The femur literally needs the patella to walk. It connects the femur to the rest of the leg. Kneed is a play on the word need. The double context makes it a quick chuckle. Now, one might also say this joke was humerus. But the humerus is an arm bone.

Joke Source

http://www.jokes4us.com/miscellaneousjokes/schooljokes/biologyjokes.html

Which Biochemicals Wash Up on Beaches?

Nucleotides

Joke Dissection

This joke is funny because of the play on words between tides on a beach and the suffix -tides of the biochemical molecule called nucleotides. Nucleotides are the organic molecules that make up DNA. There’s also the added humor that they wouldn’t wash up on beaches.

But, technically, if we put on our lab coats and act like sticklers of science, nucleotides do wash up on beaches in the form of organic life. There are millions of microorganisms that live in the ocean, and there are also nucleotides in the various parts of living things that wash up on the shore.

Joke Source

https://www.buzzfeed.com/kellyoakes/biology-jokes

What Is Blood’s Message to the World?

B Positive.

Joke Dissection

This joke makes our list of funniest biology jokes because it has multiple levels. There’s the fact that B positive is a blood type. and it is a play on the phrase, “Be Positive.”

It’s also funny to imagine your blood being super optimistic and sweet considering how little we see of it. Giving it that personality gives it that extra level of humor.

Also if you’re a fan of dark humor, B positive blood is super rare. The argument could be made that optimists are even rarer.

Joke Source

http://www.jokes4us.com/miscellaneousjokes/schooljokes/biologyjokes.html

What do You Call a Member of the Financial Staff of the Faculty of Biology?

A buy-ologist.

Joke Dissection

This joke is funny because it’s a play on the word biologist. Not just any biologist but the person who manages the money for biology, which would make them a buyer. Are dad biology jokes a thing?

Joke Source

http://laffgaff.com/biology-jokes-puns-and-one-liners/

Why are Men Sexier than Women?

You can’t spell sexy without a ‘xy’

Joke Dissection

This joke is funny on multiple levels. Now this joke has a nice build up that gets you thinking it’s talking about sexual reproduction. But it’s talking about sex as in the biological sex of someone.

Cis-gendered men are born male because of their XY chromosomes. Cis-gendered women have XX chromosomes.

This joke also sounds like a cheesy pickup line you would hear from a sketchy character, but instead, it’s biologically informative.

Joke Source

https://www.quickfunnyjokes.com/biology.html

What Do You Call a Microbiologist Who Has Visited 30 Different Countries and Speaks 6 Languages?

A man of many cultures

Joke Dissection

This is one of our favorite biology jokes because it’s a play on the world of microbiologists. Microbiologists need to get cultures in order to study the colonies of bacteria, protozoans, or other microorganisms.

Joke Source

https://www.quickfunnyjokes.com/biology.html

Is There a Big Difference Between Male and Female Anatomy?

Yes, a vas deferens.

Joke Dissection

This is one of our favorite biology jokes! It’s so hilarious because of the solid wordplay. Vas deferens is a play on vast difference. But literally, one of the biggest differences between male and female anatomy is the vas deferens. The vas deferens are the ducts that lead sperm cells from the epididymis to the ejaculatory ducts.

Joke Source

https://www.buzzfeed.com/kellyoakes/biology-jokes

What Did One Cell Say to His Sister Cell When She Stepped on His Toe?

Mitosis.

Joke Dissection

This is a great biology joke because it covers the basics. Mitosis is how cells replicate. One cell forms two sister cells. But it also brings in the element of two sisters fighting.

So if one sister steps on another sister’s toes she might say “My toesies.” Which sounds like mitosis. It’s also funny to picture two cells bickering like sisters.

Joke Source

http://laffgaff.com/biology-jokes-puns-and-one-liners/

How Does Juliet Maintain a Constant Body Temperature?

Romeostasis.

Joke Dissection

This isn’t just one of the funniest biology jokes, but it brings in some Shakespeare and literature. Literary references can be funny, too. Homeostasis is how animals maintain their internal temperature and the equilibrium of their body. “Romeo & Juliet” is one of the most popular love stories of all time.

Joke Source

http://laffgaff.com/biology-jokes-puns-and-one-liners/

Why Didn’t the Dendrochronologist Ever Get Married?

Because he only dated trees

Joke Dissection

A dendrochronologist is a person who studies the lifespan of trees. They literally date trees. But it would be sad to imagine a single, lonely scientist only dating trees. This joke is not just a super deep reference, it also is a play on words.

You also imagine the sad picture of a lonely dendrologist studying their trees but, surprise, it’s about what they literally do.

Joke Source

https://www.buzzfeed.com/kellyoakes/biology-jokes

Now it may be a while before you are touring with Kevin Hart. But you will definitely make your professor laugh with these great biology jokes. Not only can they help you ace your exam, but you’ll also put breathing more life into life science.

What Is Osmosis in Biology? Understanding How Solvents Break the Barrier

Are you getting ready for your first biology class? Or are you trying to shake off the cobwebs and remember your biology from years ago? Either way, you may be asking, what is osmosis in biology?

We want to answer this question in a way that is thorough and understandable at the same time. Dust off your old textbook and put on your reading glasses as you find answers to the question, “What is osmosis in biology?”

What Is Osmosis In Biology?

Osmosis is a type of diffusion. In biology, it is related to cells. Osmosis happens when a solvent flows through a cell membrane, to balance the concentration of a solute — such as salt. If water is a solvent, it will be affected by the amount of salt (solute) that it contains.

Understanding Diffusion

Diffusion happens when molecules move from a highly concentrated area to a less concentrated region. Solids, liquids, and gasses can all diffuse.

When a liquid such as water diffuses in cellular biology, it crosses a semipermeable membrane to balance the concentrations of substances within the cells. As water flows in or out of a cell, the concentration of solutes affects its travel.

Semipermeable Membranes

To answer the question, what is osmosis in biology, we have to understand semipermeable membranes.

Semipermeable membranes are membranes that allow specific molecules or solvents to pass through by diffusion. Every cell in the human body has a cellular membrane, and they are semipermeable.

That word breaks down: “semi” in this biology word means “partly”, and “permeable” means “able to be passed through, or permeated.” So, semipermeable membrane means a membrane partially able to be crossed.

Some things can pass through, and others cannot.

Osmosis happens as solvents pass into and out of the cell, crossing that semipermeable membrane.

Osmosis in Plants and Animals

Plant cells need more water than animal cells. Plants have thicker cell walls that can contain more solution before bursting. For that reason, plants can thrive with the diffusion of hypotonic solutions.

Hypotonic solutions have a much higher ratio of solvent to solute. Hypotonic solutions can make animal cells burst; animal cells have thinner cell walls than plant cells.

Isotonic solutions are much better for diffusion in animal cells. Isotonic solutions contain equal amounts of solvent and solute. Conversely, isotonic solutions will leave plants drooping and unhealthy.

Did you ever hear of someone pouring salt on a slug when they were a child? Hopefully not; but if you did you know the slug shriveled up and essentially disappeared. That is because the water left the slug’s cells in an attempt to balance the concentration of salt outside the cells.

That is osmosis in action.

Examples of Osmosis

Try it at home! If you are looking for an example of osmosis you can easily try at home, and you have some lettuce in your fridge (or any leafy green like kale or spinach) that has become wilted try this experiment:

Types of Solutions

image source: pixabay.com

Every solution has a solvent and a solute. When you buy contact lens solution, you are essentially buying saltwater; water is the solvent and salt is the solution. The same is basically true of your tears.

Solutions

To answer the question, what is osmosis in biology, we have to understand the types of solutions in biology. Solutions include isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic.

Iso means “equal.”

Isotonic solutions have equal amounts of solutes inside and outside the cell. Therefore, isotonic solutions have no net movement because the concentration is already equal.

“Hypo” means “below” or “lower.”

Hypotonic solutions have lower concentrations of solutes outside of the cell than inside. This causes osmosis as solvents enter the cell to even the concentration.

Hyper means “high” or “above.”

Hypertonic solutions have higher concentrations of solutes outside the cell causing osmosis as solvents exit the cell to balance the concentration.

Osmosis Applications and Uses

We asked, what is osmosis in biology, and a logical follow-up question is, what are the applications of osmosis?

Another easy osmosis experiment to try at home:

You need two glass or ceramic cereal-sized bowls, one large carrot or two “baby” carrots, salt, and water.

Pour water into both bowls, sufficient to cover the carrot(s).
Stir salt into one of the bowls until it stops dissolving (hot water will dissolve the salt faster, but let it cool to room temp before adding the carrot).
Place a baby carrot, or half of your large carrot, in both bowls.
Wait: set a timer for one hour, and check your carrots at intervals throughout the day.

We can see something interesting when we drop a carrot into a bowl of saltwater. Within hours the carrot will have become a limp, orange piece of ribbon.

Why? Because the water left the carrot to balance the high concentration of salt surrounding the carrot.

Have you ever watched a suspense movie where the stranded travelers on a desert island are longing for something to drink and one wise traveler warns the others, “Do not drink the ocean water!” A diet of ocean water would leave your cells void of water as it traveled to counteract the salt.

Medicine

Noting the effect of osmosis on our cells, consider the role of osmosis in medicine. Our red blood cells are the giver of life to many who have undergone blood transfusions. In the meantime, red blood cells are stored in an isotonic solution. Remember the solution types?

An isotonic solution is measured to balance the concentration of solutes inside and outside the cells. If the blood cells were stored in a hypotonic or hypertonic solution, the cells would either lose their water or be overtaken by water. Either way, lives could be lost.

A similar phenomenon happens when medicine is received intravenously. If the medicine within the IV solution took on too much solution or lost too much solution, it would not achieve its intended purpose.

Fruits

Have you ever eaten a dehydrated peach chip? Or strawberry chip? Fruits are dehydrated and preserved through osmosis.

Fruits are made primarily of water, so as osmosis causes the water to leave the fruit, it becomes much less likely to spoil

Meat

The opposite is true of meats. Think of the days before refrigerators and ice boxes. How did people preserve their meat? They covered it with salt.

Why did they do that? Unlike fruits that are dehydrated, meats are preserved through drawing solvent into the meat. As the solvent enters, it brings the solute (salt) with it to prevent easy access for bacteria. Salt creates a hypertonic environment that is lethal to bacteria cells.

The Other Side of the Coin

Remember the folks on the desert island? While osmosis could lead to their death through the consumption of saltwater, osmosis could also be their best friend. Since osmosis is a two-way street, it flows into and out of cells depending on concentration levels, it can actually be used to turn saltwater into something salt-free and drinkable.

While the stranded folks wouldn’t have the proper tools to reverse osmosis on the desert island, it is not impossible for someone with an understanding of science and osmosis.

Basically, the pressure is created to push water from highly concentrated areas into an area away from the salt. Today, small units can actually be purchased to reverse osmosis and create safe drinking water.

Here’s an example of a large unit, used in Australia, to clean saltwater for drinking:

Conclusion

What is osmosis in biology? Hopefully, you can now answer that question with some thoroughness.

Osmosis is a type of diffusion that happens when a solvent moves through a semipermeable membrane. In biology, water moves through our cells based on the concentration or ratio of solvent (water) to solute (salt).

Semipermeable membranes allow some solutions to pass through, meaning cells can take on too much water or lose too much water. If a cell is in a solution more concentrated than itself (hypertonic), water will enter the cell to balance the high concentration of salt without the cell.

Osmosis also plays a key role in carrying nutrients across the cell membrane. Likewise, waste is escorted out of the cell. Osmosis allows the roots of trees and plants to get the water and nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy.

In return, the plants feed us, either directly or by sustaining the herd animals we eventually eat. Plants rely on osmosis to live, and people rely on plants to live.

Aside from plants, osmosis also is crucial to man’s survival because it expels toxins and waste from our systems.

Hopefully, you have an understanding of osmosis as you move ahead in your biology class or as you reflect on your biology class from many years ago. Osmosis in biology is more than a scientific principle in an old textbook; it is a lifeline for both plants and animals.

You can look around you each day and see it at work, from tall trees in your backyard to patients recovering in the hospital with an IV feeding their veins. Practical examples of osmosis range from accident victims receiving emergency blood transfusions to little kids pouring salt on slugs.

Take note of the osmosis that happens in front of you each day and be amazed by the science all around you.

Featured image: pixabay.com