Plasmolysis - GCSE Biology Definition

Plasmolysis is a process that occurs in plant cells when they lose too much water. It happens when a plant cell is placed in a solution with a higher concentration of solutes (like salt or sugar) than inside the cell. Water moves out of the cell by osmosis, causing the cell membrane to pull away from the cell wall. This makes the cell appear shrivelled and can lead to wilting in plants. Plasmolysis helps students understand osmosis and how plant cells respond to their environment, which are key topics in GCSE Biology.