Membranes

Throughout this unit you will learn the important role membranes play in biological systems. Membranes divide the cell from the “outside” world, in essence, they are the gatekeepers who decide what can enter and exit a cell. Have you ever been sick and had to take a drug? If so, then you utilized the science of membranes! Think about how medications get inside cells in order to work their magic…they had to get across your membranes!
 * Mesmerizing Membranes**

Let’s explore…

__//**Lecture**//__ (You will need Microsoft Silverlight to view)
 * **Readings** ||  || **Tasks/Assignments** ||
 * Watch My Video Lecture on Membranes

||  || -Take notes as you watch my presentation.

-Try to predict what I will say next.

-Use the posted PowerPoint as a study aid ||

__//**Lab**//__ (You will need Adobe Shockwave to view) ||  || This interactive exercise will allow you to explore how substances are transported across membranes against a  concentration gradient. By altering ATP concentrations, will be able to speed or slow the operation of the ATP-driven sodium/potassium pump and explore the consequences for amino acid transport. Similarly, you can alter the cellular or extracellular levels of amino acids and investigate the effect on cellular expenditure of ATP. Because the amino acid transport channel is coupled to the ATP-driven sodium/potassium pump, you will hopefully discover that both ATP and amino acid levels have important influences.
 * **Readings** ||  || **Tasks/Assignments** ||
 * Visit The Active Transport Simulator

Use the handout below to guide your explorations.

|| would it enter your cells? Use Zooburst to create a digital pop-up book describing the journey taken by your selected ion or molecule. When completed, post your book to the course website and comment on the books of your classmates. Be sure to include:
 * Peruse Zooburst ||  || Imagine what life is like for an ion or molecule that is dissolved in some of your extracellular fluid. How (and perhaps why)
 * Peruse Zooburst ||  || Imagine what life is like for an ion or molecule that is dissolved in some of your extracellular fluid. How (and perhaps why)
 * Where the journey begins
 * Where the journey ends
 * How it's getting there? (active or passive transport?)
 * Why does it need to reach its destination?

Let your creative juices flow with this adventure! ||


 * < **Having trouble with course content?**
 * Give these links a go...** ||
 * < Membrane Animation ||
 * < Passive Transport ||
 * < Active Transport ||
 * = Diffusion in Action ||