Editing Plasmolysis (section)

{{Short description|Process by which  cells lose water in a hypertonic solution}}
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 |image           = Blausen 0683 OsmoticFlow Hypertonic.png
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 |caption         = A red blood cell in a hypertonic solution, causing water to move out of the cell.
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 |specialty       = [[Cell biology]]
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 |causes          = [[Osmosis]]
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{{Multiple image|direction=vertical|align=right|image1=Rhoeo Discolor epidermis.jpg|image2=Rhoeo Discolor - Plasmolysis.jpg|width=180|caption2=Before plasmolysis (top) and after (bottom)}}
'''Plasmolysis''' is the process in which cells lose water in a [[hypertonic]] solution. The reverse process, [[deplasmolysation|deplasmolysis]] or [[cytolysis]], can occur if the cell is in a [[Tonicity#Hypotonicity|hypotonic]] solution resulting in a lower external [[osmotic pressure]] and a net flow of water into the cell. Through observation of plasmolysis and deplasmolysis, it is possible to determine the [[tonicity]] of the cell's environment as well as the rate solute molecules cross the [[Cell membrane|cellular membrane]].