jaimiemeeks

Cells exposed to a hypotonic solution can take in more water than is expelled, thereby expanding and exploding. It is said that a cell has lysed (sp?) when this occurs. My girlfriend and I were discussing something and this term came up ... but neither of us could remember the term that refers to when a cell shrivels up, as with a cell exposed to a hypertonic solution!

 

Note - I'm not assuming that all cells do this, regardless of cell walls (as in plants) and such, or anything of the sort - really, I'm just curious about the term for cellular implosion. I think there is a term ... and so does my girlfriend. Neither of us can remember it, though, and my googling is all for naught.

 

Someone help us, or else this tip-of-the-tongueism will drive me insane for days, perhaps even years!

Plasmolysis..I think that is what you are looking for. It is when a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution and causes it to shrink. It is called plasmolysis, which causes the cell to become flacid.