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Food: 0
Distance: 0m
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Use WASD or Arrow Keys to move • Press C for contractile vacuole Touch anywhere to move • Use CV button for contractile vacuole
CV

Contractile

Navigate your cell through different water zones while managing osmotic pressure!

How to Play:

  • Move with WASD or Arrow Keys (or touch controls)
  • Collect green food for energy
  • Avoid predators in each zone
  • Press C to use contractile vacuole (halves water & energy)

Zone Effects:

  • Light Blue (Hypotonic): Water flows IN (+4%/s)
  • Medium Blue (Isotonic): No water change
  • Dark Blue (Hypertonic): Water flows OUT (-4%/s)

The Science Behind It

What is a Contractile Vacuole?

A contractile vacuole is a specialized organelle found in freshwater protists and single-celled organisms. It acts as a cellular pump that collects excess water from the cell and expels it to the outside environment.

This organelle is crucial for survival in hypotonic (low salt) environments where water constantly enters the cell through osmosis, threatening to cause the cell to burst (lysis).

Fun fact: Some contractile vacuoles can expel up to 40% of the cell's volume in water every minute!

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Time Survived: 0s
Food Eaten: 0
Distance Traveled: 0m

Biology Quiz

Test your knowledge about osmosis and cellular biology!

Question 1 of 4