Treatment of Kidney Failure
Treatment of Kidney Failure When a patient has a mild to moderate kidney failure where the serum creatinine is less than 400 µmol/L, he does not require renal replacement therapy such as dialysis or renal transplant. This is due to the fact that he still has enough residual renal function to sustain life. However he requires certain medications and dietary restriction to delay damage to the kidney. When his serum creatinine increase to 900 µmol/L, he requires dialysis or a kidney transplant. Dialysis in General Dialysis is a process which allows diffusion of solutes dissolved in blood across a semi- permeable membrane into another solution and vice versa. This means that it removes waste products through this special membrane and bicarbonate can diffuse across to the blood to neutralise acid. In this way the imbalance in the body can be corrected. Peritoneal Dialysis What is Peritoneal Dialysis? Peritoneal dialysis is a form of dialysis that occurs inside the body. Dialysis solution will flow into the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity through a silastic catheter. The peritoneal membrane (petrionuem) acts as a filter. Waste products and excess water pass from the body through the membrane into the dialysis solution. When the filtering process is completed, the waste filled solution is to be drained from the peritoneal cavity into a bag and is then discarded. Fresh
Movement of Nutrients in Plants
Movement of nutrients in plants The structure of chlorophyll: Chlorophyll belongs to a group of organic compounds called carotenoids. The head of the chlorophyll a and b molecules consists of a porphyrin. Haemoglobin and the cytochromes lso contain porphyrin molecules. Porphyrins form complexes with metal ions. In the case of chlorophyll, the metal is magnesium located at the centre of the porphyrin head of the molecule. A long chain alcohol called phytol is attached to the porphyrin head. After the phytol tail is attached to the the porphyrin head, photosynthesis can take place. In order for photosynthesis to occur, there must be sufficient pigment to absorb the necessary light energy. Plants need minerals which they obtain through their roots, in order to make the pigment. Nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorous are the three other elemts needed to produce proteins, nucleic acids, ATP amd many other chemicals. All the necessary minerals are taken up into the plant via the roots as ions. Uptake of mineral salts: Plants require a variety of mineral salts as well as carbon dioxide and water; these minerals are absorbed as the appropriate ions from the plants' surroundings. In some cases, the ions may enter the plant against a concentration gradient. The ions are selectively absorbed by active transport, therefore energy is used. Mineral ions are taken up by the root hairs and
An Investigation into the Water Potential Of Root Vegetables.
An Investigation into the Water Potential Of Root Vegetables. The aim of this investigation is to find the water potential of two root vegetables and to evaluate any differences that are found. Root vegetables take in the water they need through a process known as osmosis. Water moves from an area of high water potential to an area of low water potential through a partially permeable membrane. The water potential of root vegetables depends on the concentration of solutes within their cells. Starch is not soluble so the starch content of the vegetables will not affect the water potential. Sucrose however is soluble. In the investigation I will find the isotonic solution for each vegetable based on the principle that when the vegetable is in a hypertonic solution it will lose water (and become plasmolysed) and therefore lose mass and that when the vegetable is in a hypotonic solution it will gain water (and become turgid) and gain mass. By calculating the percentage change in each vegetable piece I will be able to find the concentration of sucrose solution at which the vegetable will gain no mass. Once the isotonic solution is found for each vegetable, its water potential can be found by using a reference graph, which shows the water potential for different concentrations of sucrose. The two vegetables I will use will be a potato and a swede. Swedes are considered a sweet
Biology Coursework - Osmosis - To Investigate concentration of sucrose solution is isotonic to potato cell sap.
Biology Coursework - Osmosis Planning Aim: To investigate what concentration of sucrose solution is isotonic to potato cell sap. Apparatus: 0M sucrose (aq) (distilled water) 2M sucrose (aq) Potato Chip cutter Knife Boiling tubes Measuring cylinder (25cm3) Vernier callipers (to nearest 0.1mm) Balance (to nearest 0.01gram) Safety: I will ensure safety around the lab by: wearing safety goggles, laying paper towels, removing baggage from walking space, push stools under the bench, stand up, walk carefully and slowly - don't rush and handle equipment and apparatus carefully. Preliminary Experiment: I did a small experiment before doing the real one so I could find a suitable range to base my investigation round. I used 3 chips in 3 boiling tubes, each containing 20cm3 of: 0M sucrose, 0.5M sucrose and 1M sucrose. Moles of Sucrose /M Original Mass /g Mass after 3 hours /g Up/Down in mass 0M 8.02 9.94 Up 0.5M 8.18 7.83 Down M 8.83 7.20 Down As you can see from my preliminary results, I should investigate between 0M sucrose and 0.5M sucrose as a suitable range. I predicted that the isotonic concentration lies between 0.35M and 0.4M. Method: I will cut 5 chips with no skin on them and have them approximately the same length, width, breadth and mass (using the balance and Vernier callipers for extra accuracy), then I will dry off the sap completely. I will
Investigate a factor which can affect the process of osmosis in a living plant tissue
Meetal Odedra 11V Biology coursework Investigate a factor which can affect the process of osmosis in a living plant tissue Planning For this coursework investigation I will be investigating factors that affect the process of osmosis in a living plant cell, but mainly focusing on one factor I have chosen. In order to do so, I have conducted some background research on osmosis to help me understand the investigation in hand. Background Scientific Research (Using D.G. Mackean's GCSE Biology textbook) Osmosis is defined as the movement of water molecules from a high concentration of water (potential) to a lower concentration of water (potential) down a concentration gradient, through a partially permeable membrane. When a substance such as sugar dissolves in water, it reduces the concentration of the water molecules because the sugar molecules attract some of the water molecules and stop them moving freely. Osmosis can be explained with the help of the diagram below: The diagram shows that the sugar molecules on the right have attracted half of the water molecules. There are now more free water molecules on the left than on the right so water molecules will diffuse more rapidly from left to right across the partially permeable membrane, than from right to left. This is because the net movement of the water molecules move from the high concentration of water
Mr Chips: Investigation to find an isotonic solution for potatoes
Mr Chips: Investigation to find an isotonic solution for potatoes Introduction Investigation aimed to find out the amount of grams of salt solute needed to create an isotonic solution to prevent osmosis in fresh cut potato chips. Osmosis is the movement of water molecules through a selectively-permeable membrane down a water potential gradient. More specifically, it is the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of high water potential (low solute concentration) to an area of low water potential (high solute concentration). The water molecules will continue to move through the semi-permeable membrane until both sides have reached a state of equilibrium. Isotonic solution is a solution in which its solute concentration is the same as the solute concentration of another solution with which it is compared In plant cells when water moves into the vacuole it increases in size and pushes the cell membrane against the cell wall, this causes the cellulose cell wall to stretch slightly and when it can stretch no further it becomes taut and firm. The pressure inside the cell rises and eventually the internal pressure of the cell is so high that no more water can enter the cell. This liquid or hydrostatic pressure works against osmosis. At this point the cell wall prevents the cell from bursting and is said to be fully turgid. Turgidity is very
The Importance and Biological Functions of Carbohydrates.
The Importance and Biological Functions of Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates have many functions. This essay will look at some of them and also what carbohydrates are constructed of. A Carbohydrate molecule contains Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen. There are twice as many Hydrogens as there are Oxygens, the same proportion as water. Carbohydrates have the general formula of C (H O) Carbohydrates can be divided into three main types. These are monosaccharides (single sugar units), disaccharides (two sugar units) and polysaccharides (many sugar units). Different monosaccharides contain different numbers of carbon atoms. Trioses contain three, pentoses contain five and hexoses six. Carbohydrates have many different functions and come in many different forms. Ribose and Deoxyribose are both pentose monosaccharides and are found in RNA and DNA. Glucose and Fructose are both hexose monosaccharides. Glucose is an important source of energy in respiration and Fructose is found in fruits. Sucrose is a disaccharide formed from Glucose and fructose. It is the form in which carbohydrates are transported in plants. Maltose is a disaccharide of glucose and is formed from the digestion of starch. The carbohydrate in milk is lactose and it is formed from Glucose and galactose. Important polysaccharides include Starch, Glycogen and Cellulose. They are all made up from Glucose but have different
Types of diffusion
Types of Diffusion and Their uses Diffusion is the phenomenon of random motion causing a system to decay towards uniform conditions. Diffusion causes particles to disperse throughout the area it is released in, it can be the diffusion of heat, momentum or concentration. Diffusion usually takes place when there are two mediums of different concentations, in which case diffusion will occur and the two mediums will become isotonic - reaching a state of equilibrium. Osmosis is the movement of water across a partially permeable membrane up a concentration gradient which separates the two solutions at different concentrations. In two volumes of water at different concentrations the solutions will each attempt to pass through the semi-permeable membrane but the solution with a lower concentration will only allow water to pass through as the solute molecules are to big to get through. Osmosis will continue to happen until the 2 solutions reach equilibrium and the flow of water molecules from one side equals the flow of water molecules from the other side through the partially permeable membrane, this is also called isotonic. Plants use osmosis to take up water into their roots because they have a large surface area and the water coming through the permeable membrane generates the pressure needed to send the water up the plant to the vital areas. Simple diffusion is a process of
Affect Of Varying Salt Concentration on Red Blood Cell Haemolysis
COURSEWORK INVESTIGATION Affect Of Varying Salt Concentration on Red Blood Cell Haemolysis Tahir Aziz CONTENTS > Plan > Outline method > Key variables > Risk assessment > Preliminary results > Method > Results of control experiments > Results > Conclusions > Main trends and patterns > Explanation of results > Experimental limitations Affect Of Varying Salt Concentration on Red Blood Cell Haemolysis Abstract The average adult has about five litres of blood living inside of their body, coursing through their vessels, delivering essential elements, and removing harmful wastes. Without blood, the human body would stop working. Blood is the fluid of life, transporting oxygen from the lungs to body tissue and carbon dioxide from body tissue to the lungs. Blood is the fluid of growth, transporting nourishment from digestion and hormones from glands throughout the body. Blood is the fluid of health, transporting disease fighting substances to the tissue and waste to the kidneys. Because it contains living cells, blood is alive. Red blood cells and white blood cells are responsible for nourishing and cleansing the body. Since the cells are alive, they too need nourishment. Vitamins and Minerals keep the blood healthy. The blood cells have a definite life cycle, just as all living organisms do. Approximately 55 percent of blood is plasma, a straw-collared clear
The Heart, Structure and Function
Heart Structure and Function Mammals have a double circulation Pulmonary Circulation- Takes blood on the relatively short return journey to the lungs, where blood is oxygenated Systemic Circulation- Takes blood around the rest of the body The human heart is covered by a double layer of tough inelastic membranes which form the pericardium. A fluid (pericardial fluid) is secreted between the membranes, allowing them to move easily over each other. The pericardium protects the heart from over-expansion caused by elastic recoil when it is beating very fast. The walls of the heart consist mainly of cardiac muscle, a special type of muscle only found in the heart. Unlike other muscles, it never fatigues. However it does not tolerate lack of oxygen or nutrients and soon dies if its supply of blood is cut off. The heart is divided into a left side and a right side by the septum. The septum becomes rigid just before the heart contracts, so that it functions as a fulcrum for the action of the heart muscle. Each side of the heart has 2 chambers: an atrium which receives blood from the veins and a ventricle which pumps blood into arteries. Deoxygenated blood from the systemic veins enter the right atrium and is passed through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. This contracts and pumps blood through the pulmonary artery into the lungs. Oxygenated blood returns through
