In an experiment, you create two groups of liposomes in a solution containing 0.1 M NaCl—one made from red blood cell membranes and the other from frog egg cell membranes. When the liposomes are placed in water, those with red blood cell membranes burst more rapidly than those made from egg membranes. What could explain these results? Select True or False for each of the following statements.a. T/F The red blood cell liposomes are more hypertonic relative to water than the frog egg liposomes.b. T/F The red blood cell liposomes are more hypotonic relative to water than the frog egg liposomes.c. T/F The red blood cell liposomes contain more aquaporins than the frog egg liposomes.d. T/F The frog egg liposomes contain ion channels, which are not present in the red blood cell liposomes.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of tonicity. Tonicity refers to the relative concentration of solutes in two solutions separated by a semipermeable membrane. A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to another solution, while a hypotonic solution has a lower concentration.
2. Step 2: Analyze the environment. Both liposome groups are initially in a 0.1 M NaCl solution, which is isotonic to both types of membranes. When placed in water, the environment becomes hypotonic relative to the liposomes, causing water to move into the liposomes.
3. Step 3: Consider the role of aquaporins. Aquaporins are membrane proteins that facilitate water transport across cell membranes. If red blood cell liposomes burst more rapidly, it could be due to a higher number of aquaporins, allowing faster water influx.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the presence of ion channels. Ion channels allow ions to pass through the membrane, potentially affecting osmotic balance. If frog egg liposomes have ion channels that red blood cell liposomes lack, this could influence their stability in water.
5. Step 5: Apply the information to each statement. Use the understanding of tonicity, aquaporins, and ion channels to assess the truthfulness of each statement regarding the behavior of the liposomes in water.

Key Concepts

Osmosis and Tonicity

Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. Tonicity refers to the relative concentration of solutes in a solution compared to another solution. A hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration than the cell, causing it to lose water, while a hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration, leading to water influx and potential bursting of the cell.

Membrane Composition and Permeability

The composition of a cell membrane, including the types and amounts of lipids and proteins, affects its permeability to water and solutes. Red blood cell membranes are primarily composed of phospholipids and contain specific proteins that facilitate rapid water movement, while frog egg cell membranes may have different lipid compositions and protein channels, influencing their response to osmotic changes.

Aquaporins and Ion Channels

Aquaporins are specialized water channel proteins that facilitate the rapid transport of water across cell membranes. The presence of aquaporins can significantly increase the rate of osmosis. Ion channels, on the other hand, allow the passage of ions across the membrane, which can affect the osmotic balance and overall cell volume. The differences in these proteins between red blood cell and frog egg cell membranes can explain the varying rates of liposome bursting.