Why Do Cells need Water?

Why Do Cells need Water?

First of all, we all know that cells are the basic unit and building blocks of life and all organisms are composed of cells.

Each cell is composed of 3 parts: plasma membrane or cell membrane, cytoplasm and genetic material like RNA and DNA. Now where does water come in? Cells greatly depend on water in order to function normally. Water is a very important part of the cell for a number of reasons such as:

Ã’šÃ‚· The cytoplasm in the cell consists mainly of water and dissolved nutrients, wastes, ions, proteins and other molecules.

Ã’šÃ‚· The plasma membrane is made from fatty acids. Without water, it will not combine as a fatty membrane that houses the cell.

Ã’šÃ‚· The process of electron transport or respiratory chain depends on water to transfer electrons and produce a proton gradient like the ATP (adenosine 5′-triphosphate) which is an activated carrier which gives organisms energy. It provides energy to power up other cellular reactions.

Ã’šÃ‚· Other enzymatic reactions also rely on water to perform its function.

Ã’šÃ‚· Water is also used by cells to transport nutrients to other cells and release waste products from the body such as in the form of sweat, urine and poop.

Ã’šÃ‚· Water takes an important role in most biochemical reactions like in osmosis, wherein water leaves the cell if the solute content is higher on the outside of the membrane than on the inside. If the solute concentration is higher inside the cell than outside, water will enter the cell. If however the concentration of the solute is the same on both sides of the cell, water moves out of the cell just as it moves in.

To sum it up, water is very essential to the cells’ function. Take away water and the cells will weaken and eventually die. No water means no cell. No cells means no tissues. No tissues means no organs and no organs means no body.