UNI101Y1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Rainbow Trout, Ice Crystals, Supercooling
16 Feb 2013
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Document Summary
Temp. below freezing point of water are very common on earth. When living cells freeze, the crystal structure of ice disrupts most life processes and may damage delicate cell structures. Many organisms cope by maintaining their body temp. , or by activating chemical mechanisms to tolerate or resist freezing. Marine vertebrates are susceptible to freezing in cold seawater (how does blood and body tissues freeze solid in liquid water?) Dissolved substances in seawater depress the freezing temp. Pure water freezes at 0 c, seawater, -2 c. Vertebrates contain less salt content than seawater, freezing at higher temp. than it. Fish can"t keep high salt conc. in their bodies because it interferes with biochemical processes instead, they raise their conc. of compounds like glycerol (and glycoproteins) 10% glycerol solution lowers freezing point of water by 2. 3 c. Some terrestrial animals also use this approach (containing as much as 30%)
