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Isothermal Settling (aka sedimentation equilibrium)

  1. Nov 21, 2015 #1

    twall11347243

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    Is anyone familiar with these terms or the experiments involved? I have a lot of questions regarding them. Thank you guys.
     

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    twall11347243, Nov 21, 2015
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  3. Nov 23, 2015 #2

    .Scott

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    "Isothermal" simply means that its one temperature from top to bottom.
    Settling is what happens to heavy particles in the liquid. Not surprisingly, big heavy particles drop like a rock and end up at the bottom (H=0). Others take more time and fall onto the accumulation of bigger particles.
     
    .Scott, Nov 23, 2015
  4. Nov 23, 2015 #3

    twall11347243

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    Okay, so would you consider the cell to be 'isothermal'? I don't, but apparently it is according to this Paul Todd paper (See attached).
    Overall the cell may be 'isothermal' to maintain a constant 37 oC... but within the molecular environment there endothermic/exothermic reactions where heat is being transfered and local temperature variations occur due to increases in kinetic energy.

    He mentions this isothermal settling is a process to be considered inside cells. What do you think about that? Isothermal settling is a static state of equilibrium of no net mass movement, with more particles concentrating towards the bottom. I wouldn't think cells would be able to survive under these conditions.
     

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    twall11347243, Nov 23, 2015
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