'Shocking' Secret of Cell Wall Growth (VIDEO)
Caption
Cells are porous. They shrink or swell in response to osmosis -- the migration of water across a membrane to equalize pressure inside and out. This video uses advanced microscopy to teach biologists something new. They had thought cell walls did not grow as fast under high external osmotic pressure. But this time-lapse movie shows E. coli cells suddenly growing engorged when put under low osmotic pressures, like raisins turning back into grapes, as water rushed back into the cells to reveal wall growth that had occurred, but remained hidden. Credit: Enrique Rojas
Credit
Enrique Rojas
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