A red blood cell takes on so much water that the spaces between membrane molecules grow too large. What is this outcome called?
ACrenation of the cell
BLysis of the cell
CPlasmolysis of the cell
DTurgor of the cell
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Lysis of the cell
1. A red blood cell will burst, or lyse, when it swells beyond the plasma membrane's capability to expand.
2. The membrane resembles a mosaic with discrete spaces between its molecules, and if those spaces become too large the cell breaks apart.
3. Crenation is the opposite event, the shrinking that follows excessive water loss.
4. Plasmolysis and turgor both concern walled plant cells, which a red blood cell is not.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 5 "Structure and Function of Plasma Membranes", section 5.2 Passive Transport_
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