Active Transport - Biology Revision

KEY FACTS ABOUT ACTIVE TRANSPORT:

• Active Transport is the process of which solutes are transported from a low concentration to a high concentration. Therefore it is going against its concentration gradient through the carrier protein.
• Active Transport requires energy from respiration.
• The carrier protein gains energy when it transports the solute across the membrane, into the cell.
• Active transport is used in the gut when there is a low concentration of nutrients in the gut but a high concentration of nutrients in the blood. (Digestion)
• Active Transport occurs in plants in the root hair cell. Root hair cell with a high concentration of nitrate ions, energy will be used to transport nitrate ions from the surrounding soil into the cell, soil with a lower concentration of nitrate ions.

REMEMBER:

• DIFFUSION IS PASSIVE, SO IT DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY ENERGY, WHERE AS ACTIVE TRANSPORT REQUIRES ENERGY.
• ACTIVE TRANSPORT IS AGAINST THE CONCENTRATION GRADIENT WHERE AS DIFFUSION IS ALONG THE CONCENTRATION GRADIENT.