Team:Paris Bettencourt/Modeling/Assisted diffusion

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Team IGEM Paris 2011

Contents

Introduction to the model

The diffusion through the nanotubes is a fast process. This speed can be partially explained by the passive diffusion through the tubes. But what if it is faster? The article from Dubey and Ben-Yehuda suggests that the diffusion is an active process. Several points can be opposed to this statement:

  • First, the diffusion is happening with molecule of different natures, that have nothing to do with the natural compoments of a cell
  • Unlike the mamalian cells, the tube seems to have no "railroad" design for such a transport

The question is: can we immagine a process that is faster than passive diffusion but does not rely on specific interractions?

The answer is probably yes, and in this page we propose a new model, really challenging for the mind, but that can play a role in the diffussion process

General physical concepts and Hypothesis

Calculating the membrane tension

Back to the classical physics