Has anyone done the "effect of cell size on material transport" lab? It's about potatoes?

Question

Jasmine Nash

Biology

2 July, 21:15

Has anyone done the "effect of cell size on material transport" lab? It's about potatoes?

+1

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Toby Sullivan · Answer 1

The effect of the size of an individual cell on material transport can be investigated in the lab using raw potato.

Explanation:

Cell size is considered to be the limiting factor for the "diffusion of nutrients into the cell". Raw potato which has been cut into cubes of defined size is used as a working model of a cell. The cubes are placed in a dish containing iodine solution which reacts with starch.

This diffusion of iodine into the potato produces a black stain in the cubes. After incubation for a uniform time period the cubes are compared to find the rate of material transport.