What are some examples of biological activities in which osmosis plays an important role?
Hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) by entrance of water, the hydric regulation in plants and the entrance of water in the xylem of vascular plants are all examples of biological phenomena caused by osmosis.
Excessive dilution of the blood plasma causes, by osmosis, the entrance of too much water into red blood cells and then the destruction of these cells (hemolysis). Osmosis is also the main process for maintenance of the flaccid, turgid or plasmolytic states of plant cells. Osmosis is one of the forces responsible for the entrance of water into plant roots since root cells are hypertonic in comparison to the soil.