Osmosis is defined as the movement of water across a
semipermeable membrane from high concentration to low concentration. This
occurs when the surrounding environment of the cell has a higher water
concentration than the cell itself. Osmosis is important in animal cells
because it helps in the distribution of nutrients and the release of metabolic
waste products. In plant cells, osmosis is responsible for the absorption of
water from the soil and the elevation of the liquid into other parts of the
plants.
