Quantitative test for cell membrane integrity

Practical investigation of the effect of alcohol on cell membranes. Beetroot sections are placed in increasing concentrations of ethanol in water. After a few minutes, the presence of red/purple dye in the liquid would indicate that beetroot cell surface membranes had been disrupted by the ethanol. Ethanol is a polar organic solvent and can interact with phospholipids, disrupting their organisation as a bilipid layer and thus causing cell contents, including the dye, to be released into the liquid surrounding the beetroot sections. The extent of this can be quantified using colorimetry. Take care to use filters of colours/wavelengths on the opposite side of the colour wheel. Happy to answer any questions you have on this procedure.