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Team:Paris Bettencourt/Modeling/Assisted diffusion
From 2011.igem.org
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
Starting from an analogy
Immagine two bottles of gaz connected by a tube. The fist one have an higher pressure than the second one. In the first one, diluted in the gaz, there are a few molecules of another nature, we follow the destiny.
When you open the tape, the bottle with a higher pressure will equillibrate with the other one my moving a certain quantity of it's molecules through the tube in the direction of the second bottle. These moving molecules will drag with them the copoment diluted in the gaz and a few of these molecules will be transported to the other bottle.
