Concept explainers
To explain: The reason why bacteria are resistant to hypotonic solutions, but animal cells are not.
Introduction: The hypotonic solution is defined as the medium in which the solute concentration is lower outside the cell when compared to the cell’s cytoplasm. The water from the environment enters the cells to balance the solute concentration.
Explanation of Solution
Bacteria are resistant to hypotonic environments due to the presence of a rigid cell wall that gives protection to the membrane from damage against the osmotic pressure. It also prevents membrane disruption when there is diffusion of water across the cell membrane into that of the cell’s cytoplasm. On the other hand, the cell wall is absent in animal cells. This may cause the cells to burst under a hypotonic environment.
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