Lesson 8 Societal Applications
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| Course: | Science 10 [5 cr] - AB Ed copy 1 |
| Book: | Lesson 8 Societal Applications |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Sunday, 7 September 2025, 6:45 PM |
Introduction
Society uses scientific research and knowledge in a variety of ways.
A8.1 A strand of DNA
Often society uses scientific research and knowledge for medical purposes, but sometimes it has other uses as well. Did you know that gene mapping can tell doctors if you have a certain disease or not? Or that stem cells are special cells that can
generate into almost any kind of specialized cells? Or that membranes similar to cell membranes are used in medical treatments and water treatment plants?
In this lesson, we will look at how microscopes, microscopic research, and cell membrane knowledge are used by society.
In this lesson, we will look at how microscopes, microscopic research, and cell membrane knowledge are used by society.
Targets
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to- identify areas of cell research at the molecular level
- describe how knowledge about semipermeable membranes, diffusion, and osmosis is applied in real-world examples
Watch This
The Journey of Medical Research © YouTube Novartis
Watch this video for an overview of how medical research happens. This video was produced by a large pharmaceutical company, so it focuses on the creation of a new drug; however, medical research is not always aiming to create a new drug. It can be focused on finding treatment options other than drugs, ways to prolong health, or even a new technology for medical testing or for everyday life.
Microscopes and Microscopic Research
Microscopes have been used to make amazing discoveries about cells and the information inside of them.
A8.2 Two Scientists using an electron microscope
We have made lots of discoveries by studying the information inside of a cell. Genes are a common molecule scientists study, and genes have provided us with so much information. Remember that genes direct the activities of our cells and that each
strand of DNA is made up of many genes.
A8.3 Scientist modifying DNA
By studying these genes, we can find a cause for many different diseases. For example, a blood disease called sickle cell anemia comes from a change in a gene. Many kinds of cancer are also thought to be triggered by a gene.
In order to study these changes that cause diseases, scientists first had to map out all the genes we have. This way, they know what is normal and what is different so they can determine a cause for a disease. Scientists completed the Human Genome Project in 2003. This means they now know where every gene a human has is located.
In order to study these changes that cause diseases, scientists first had to map out all the genes we have. This way, they know what is normal and what is different so they can determine a cause for a disease. Scientists completed the Human Genome Project in 2003. This means they now know where every gene a human has is located.
The completed Human Genome Project now allows us to focus on the function of each gene rather than where they are located. As we figure out what each gene does and how it interacts with other genes, we can develop cures or treatments
for many genetic diseases, such as sickle cell anemia or cancer.
© U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Project, via Wikimedia Commons
A8.4 Human Genome Project logo
A8.4 Human Genome Project logo
Did You Know?
A8.5 DNA strand
The human genome contains 20 500 genes. About 99% of human DNA is actually junk DNA. This DNA is DNA that does not code for a functioning gene. Scientists are researching why we have so much junk DNA and what its purpose might be.
A8.6 Stem cell possibilities
The medical field has also been doing research around the use of stem cells. Stem cells are cells that have the ability to develop into any kind of specialized cell. This is really important to medical treatments, as there are a number
of specialized cells in the human body that once damaged cannot be repaired. An example of this would be spinal cord injuries. If a nerve cell is damaged, it cannot be repaired. If the injury is bad enough, it could leave the person
paralyzed. Doctors have been doing an experimental treatment where they insert stem cells at the site of the injury, and the stem cells take on the kind of cell in that area. This replaces the damaged cells and treats the injury.
Stem cells are also being researched as a treatment for organ failure and organ transplants. Rather than having to wait for an organ to be donated, doctors could potentially grow a new organ to replace the old organ with. This would
save thousands of lives.
There is a large amount of debate around stem cells, as up until recently, the majority of the stem cells used came from human embryos. The embryos used were often created for fertility treatments. When they were not needed anymore, they were donated for research.
We have now discovered a way to genetically modify adult cells to turn them back into stem cells. Scientists are still testing these new stem cells out (called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs) to see if there are any significant differences between them and embryonic stem cells. If there is not, we could use these iPSCs for research and medical treatments rather than embryonic stem cells.
There is a large amount of debate around stem cells, as up until recently, the majority of the stem cells used came from human embryos. The embryos used were often created for fertility treatments. When they were not needed anymore, they were donated for research.
We have now discovered a way to genetically modify adult cells to turn them back into stem cells. Scientists are still testing these new stem cells out (called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs) to see if there are any significant differences between them and embryonic stem cells. If there is not, we could use these iPSCs for research and medical treatments rather than embryonic stem cells.
A8.7 Organ transplant
Digging Deeper
A8.8 iPSC creation and uses
iPSCs are a very recent discovery, and scientists are still researching them. Go to the following link for more information on this research on stem cells and iPSCs. https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/6.htm
Learn More
©Laozhengzz, via Wikimedia Commons
A8.9 Cell communication
A8.9 Cell communication
Scientists have been researching how cells communicate with each other. Using microscopes such as scanning electron microscopes that allow for observation of live cells, scientists have been able to observe cells and determine how they talk
to each other. Cells release molecules called messenger molecules that travel through the blood stream and attach to receptors on the membranes of other cells. These receptors then start a chain reaction that carries the message to the
correct location inside of the cell. This is very similar to a lock and key. The messenger molecule will only fit into specific receptors that start the correct chain reaction.
Read This
Please read pages 261 to 264 in your Science 10 textbook. Make sure you take notes on your readings to study from later. You should focus on how microscopes have helped make important discoveries. Remember, if you have any questions or you do not
understand something, ask your teacher!
Practice Questions
Complete the following practice questions to check your understanding of the concept you just learned. Make sure you write complete answers to the practice questions in your notes. After you have checked your answers, make corrections to your responses
(where necessary) to study from.
- Why is cell communication valuable to society?
Scientists use their knowledge on how cells communicate to bind substances to the cells or the membranes of the structures that they want to look at. This helps scientists to diagnose certain diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and protozoans.
This technology is also helpful in understanding how cells interact. This knowledge will help scientists with future research and treatment of HIV and cancer. You will learn more about these treatments on the next page.
- How do stem cells differ from other kinds of cells?
Stem cells can mature into any kind of specialized cells. A normal cell can only divide into copies of itself; it cannot change its specialization.
Uses of Cell Membranes
Scientists have modelled many technologies and treatments after the cell membrane.
The cell membrane is an amazing example of a semipermeable or selectively permeable membrane. This means the cell membrane only allows some particles to move through it to the other side. Knowledge of how this works has been very helpful in a variety
of ways.
A8.11 The kidneys
Normally, healthy kidneys would remove wastes from the blood and send them to be eliminated in the urine. When the kidneys fail, doctors need to either do a kidney transplant or have the patient undergo dialysis to remove the wastes. Often
patients have to wait a long time for a kidney to be available for transplantation, so dialysis allows them to continue with their lives as best they can while they wait.
The purpose of dialysis is to remove the wastes so the body does not poison itself. A tube is inserted into the abdominal cavity (the space surrounding the intestines) and is used to pump a sterile fluid called dialysate into the cavity.
The dialysate has concentrations of molecules similar to that of other body fluids but does not contain any waste products. This means there is a higher concentration of the waste products in the blood than in the dialysate. The wastes
move down the concentration gradient through diffusion and into the dialysate. As the concentration of wastes in the dialysate gets too high, it is removed and replaced with clean dialysate. This continues until all the wastes are
removed.
In this case, the patient is able to continue with most activities when this type of dialysis is occurring. There is another type of dialysis called hemodialysis (“hemo” for hemoglobin found in blood), which requires hospitalization to be performed. Hemodialysis still uses the diffusion and semipermeable membranes, but the blood is removed from the body to clean it.
In this case, the patient is able to continue with most activities when this type of dialysis is occurring. There is another type of dialysis called hemodialysis (“hemo” for hemoglobin found in blood), which requires hospitalization to be performed. Hemodialysis still uses the diffusion and semipermeable membranes, but the blood is removed from the body to clean it.
© Blausen.com staff (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014". WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436.
A8.12 Peritoneal Dialysis
A8.12 Peritoneal Dialysis
Digging Deeper?
©Blausen.com staff (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014". WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436.
A8.13 Hemodialysis
A8.13 Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis is another type of dialysis that patents with kidney failure can undergo. Go to the following link for more information on hemodialysis. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dialysis/what-happens/
Learn More
A8.14 Map of Antarctica
Reverse Osmosis is a process that is often used to remove salt (desalination) and other impurities from sea water. This is done in locations around the world where fresh water is hard to come by. An example of a location such as this
would be the research facilities in Antarctica. All the water except the ocean water is frozen in Antarctica, so the only option is to drink the ocean water. If we did not remove the salts and impurities from this water, we would become
very sick, as the
concentrationof salt in ocean or sea water is very high. Using what you know about osmosis and diffusion, why do you think this would be?
To start this process, the water is pumped through a coarse filter to remove any large materials that may be in it, such as plant or animal remains and rocks. The water is then pumped through smaller and smaller filters to remove smaller and smaller impurities. These membranes are semipermeable membranes as they only allow particles through that are small enough. Eventually, the water will have all the salt and impurities removed.
To start this process, the water is pumped through a coarse filter to remove any large materials that may be in it, such as plant or animal remains and rocks. The water is then pumped through smaller and smaller filters to remove smaller and smaller impurities. These membranes are semipermeable membranes as they only allow particles through that are small enough. Eventually, the water will have all the salt and impurities removed.
This process is called reverse osmosis because the solution left behind each membrane has a higher concentration of impurities than the solution after it. This means the water is moving from a solution of high concentration to
a solution of low concentration; the water is moving against the concentration gradient. Because of this, reverse osmosis requires the water to be pumped, and it uses energy. This causes the process to be expensive, so it is
only used when there are few other options.
A8.15 Osmosis vs Reverse Osmosis
Did You Know?
A8.16 Reverse osmosis system
You can purchase home reverse osmosis systems. Just search “reverse osmosis,” and you will get a list of locations you can buy one and the price.
A8.17 HIV attacking a cell
Both HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and cancer are hard to treat as they affect most cells in the body, so medications often target healthy cells as well as affected ones. Scientists are constantly trying to find ways to target only
the affected cells. If we could only kill the affected cells, we could cure or at least stall the disease rather than constantly fighting it.
One area of research is around cell communication. The proteins found moving around in the cell membrane are a very important part to cell communication. Specifically, receptor proteins recognize molecules that are needed in the cell and bind with them to bring them in through endocytosis. HIV uses this mechanism to enter a healthy cell. It mimics a molecule that is needed by the cell so that the receptor proteins bind with HIV to bring it into the cell. Scientists feel if they can better understand how these receptor proteins work, they can block HIV out from using them to enter the cell.
Cancer research has also moved in this direction, as these proteins in the membrane are also used for cell recognition. If scientists understood what protein or what part of a protein signalled a cancerous cell, they could create a treatment that targeted those cells rather than all cells in the body.
One area of research is around cell communication. The proteins found moving around in the cell membrane are a very important part to cell communication. Specifically, receptor proteins recognize molecules that are needed in the cell and bind with them to bring them in through endocytosis. HIV uses this mechanism to enter a healthy cell. It mimics a molecule that is needed by the cell so that the receptor proteins bind with HIV to bring it into the cell. Scientists feel if they can better understand how these receptor proteins work, they can block HIV out from using them to enter the cell.
Cancer research has also moved in this direction, as these proteins in the membrane are also used for cell recognition. If scientists understood what protein or what part of a protein signalled a cancerous cell, they could create a treatment that targeted those cells rather than all cells in the body.
Read This
Please read pages 284 to 288 in your Science 10 textbook. Make sure you take notes on your readings to study from later. You should focus on the different functions of cell membranes and cell transport and how those functions use diffusion, osmosis,
and semipermeable membranes. Remember, if you have any questions or you do not understand something, ask your teacher!
Practice Questions
Complete the following practice questions to check your understanding of the concept you just learned. Make sure you write complete answers to the practice questions in your notes. After you have checked your answers, make corrections to your responses
(where necessary) to study from.
- Explain how the process of reverse osmosis works.
Water with impurities is pushed through a semi-permeable membrane that does not allow the impurities to go through. Since the water is moving from a high concentration of impurities to a low concentration, the water is moving against the
concentration gradient, making it reverse osmosis rather than osmosis.
- How does peritoneal dialysis use membrane technology?
Peritoneal dialysis uses the semi-permeable membranes in the body. These semi-permeable membranes allow the waste products to move from the blood vessels and organs into the dialysate that is sitting in the abdominal cavity.
Uses of Cell Membranes and Microscopic Research
There are many different ways that we use the knowledge gained through microscopic research and cell membranes.
A8.18 Membrane-bound single-celled organism
The discoveries around molecular structure and cell membranes have been very important to the treatment and understanding of diseases in particular. Without understanding how cell membranes work, we would have a hard time treating many different diseases.
We can thank microscopes and microscopic research for this knowledge of cell membranes as well as our knowledge of the molecules involved in cells. The knowledge of these molecules has also played an important role in being able to identify diseases.
In the final section of this unit, we will build on the knowledge from the first two sections to see how this microscopic world creates multicellular organisms and the systems those include.
In the final section of this unit, we will build on the knowledge from the first two sections to see how this microscopic world creates multicellular organisms and the systems those include.
Problem-Solving Activity
Stem Cells in Medicine © University of Utah Genetic Science Learning Center
https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/stemcells/
Background Information:
Stem cells have great potential in medicine. They are being researched as a treatment option for many different diseases and injuries. There are also ethical considerations when it comes to stem cells in medicine as well. We will investigate these considerations in this activity.
Stem cells have great potential in medicine. They are being researched as a treatment option for many different diseases and injuries. There are also ethical considerations when it comes to stem cells in medicine as well. We will investigate these considerations in this activity.
- Click on the play button to open the information on stem cells.
- Work through the four links under the heading “Stem Cells in Medicine.” Pay close attention to the video “Unlocking Stem Cell Potential” and the article “The Stem Cell Debate: Is It Over?
- Think about what you have learned and decide if you are for or against stem cell research. You may want to do extra research if you are unsure of how you feel.
- Please click on the analysis tab to complete the analysis questions.
- What is your position on the use of stem cells? Explain why you took that position.
This answer is part of your Assignment A2. Remember to cite any resources that you use other than your textbook or the link in this activity.
1.4 Assignment
Unit A Assignment Lessons 5-8
It is now time to complete the Lesson 8 portion of 1.4 Assignment. Click on the button below to go to the assignment page.
1.4 Assignment