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"Selectively Permeable" means that the membrane can let some molecules through, and it blocks others. The cell can let things in through diffusion (when stuff just floats through the membrane easily), facilitated diffusion (stuff gets in with the help of a transport protein), or osmosis (a certain type of diffusion for water only).

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11y ago
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12y ago

Because plasma membrane allows only certain solute to move into the cell and outside the cell

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Q: What does it mean that the cell membrane is selectively permeable?
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What does it mean for a cell membrane to be selectively permeable?

it allows some substances to pass through but blocks the passage of others.


What does it mean if a cell is selectively permeable?

In Biology, a selective permeable cell means the cell only allows certain molecules to pass through. This concept was first introduced to understand the process of osmosis, where solute molecules move along a concentration gradient through a semi permeable membrane (also known as a selectively permeable membrane) Cells allow water molecules and small ions to pass through their membranes without the expenditure of energy.


What does it mean to be selectively permeable semi-permeable?

DefinitionnounA membrane that is selectively permeable, i.e. being permeable to only certain molecules and not to all molecules.SupplementAn example of such membrane is the cell membrane wherein it allows passage of only certain types of molecules by diffusion and occasionally by facilitated diffusion.by~paula razon (facebook)!!!


What does the term selectively permeable mean?

If you break down the two words, selective means to only pick certain things, and permeable means to let pass through. When you talk about something being "selectively permeable", it usually refers to a cell membrane because it only lets in certain nutrients and lets out proteins and what not. I hope this answers your question.


What does selectively permeable mean?

Selective permeability relates to the properties of a membrane. It allows the passage of some substances and not others. Theoretically, it can be thought of as a sheet with holes of a set size in it. Only objects that are smaller than these holes will be able to pass through the sheet. In a proper membrane the 'holes' are usually a type of protein channel that can control permeability by charge as well as size.

Related questions

The cell membrane is selectively permeable. What does that mean?

Because plasma membrane allows only certain solute to move into the cell and outside the cell


What does the term permable mean?

Selectively permeable refers to a cell membrane that will let certain things in and out of the cell, but block other things.


What does it mean for a cell membrane to be selectively permeable?

it allows some substances to pass through but blocks the passage of others.


Does it mean for a cell membrane to be selectively permeable?

it allows some substances to pass through but blocks the passage of others.


What does it mean that biological memberanes are selectively permeable?

it means that any biological membrane allows only certain solute or we can say nutrients that are required by cell, to enter into cell through itself and not other unnecessary particles hrmful to cell.. Such property is called selectively permeable or semi permeable...


What does the term selectively permable mean?

it means it let some materials pass through it while block the way of others for example; the outer shell of egg


What is an example of active transport through a cell membrane?

Osmosis. Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane. I'm assuming you mean active transport of plasma into a red blood cell.


What does it mean for a phospholipid membrane to be selectively permeable?

It only let's some materials pass in and out.


What does it mean for phospholipid membrane to be selectively permeable?

It only let's some materials pass in and out.


Is the cell membrane permeable in animal cells?

I assume you mean semi-permerable membrane that is permeable to the solution (water) but not the solute (salt). Osmosis can only occur if the membrane does NOT allow salt to pass through. Osmosis is the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of low salt concentration to higher salt concentration.


What does it mean if a cell is selectively permeable?

In Biology, a selective permeable cell means the cell only allows certain molecules to pass through. This concept was first introduced to understand the process of osmosis, where solute molecules move along a concentration gradient through a semi permeable membrane (also known as a selectively permeable membrane) Cells allow water molecules and small ions to pass through their membranes without the expenditure of energy.


What does it mean to be selectively permeable semi-permeable?

DefinitionnounA membrane that is selectively permeable, i.e. being permeable to only certain molecules and not to all molecules.SupplementAn example of such membrane is the cell membrane wherein it allows passage of only certain types of molecules by diffusion and occasionally by facilitated diffusion.by~paula razon (facebook)!!!