The spreading out of the particles resulting in a net movement from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration
Diffusion is a passive process as no energy is required
Molecules that can move across by diffusion
Oxygen
Glucose
Amino acids
Water
Molecules that cannot move across by diffusion
Starch
Proteins
Single-celled organisms
Can use diffusion to transport molecules into their body from the air
Have a relatively large surface area to volume ratio
Due to their low metabolic demands, diffusion across the surface of the organism is sufficient enough to meet its needs
Multicellular organisms
Surface area to volume ratio is small so they cannot rely on diffusion alone
Surfaces and organ systems have a number of adaptations that allows molecules to be transported in and out of cells
Examples of adaptations in multicellular organisms
Alveoli in the lungs
Villi in the small intestines
Root hair cells in plants
Factors affecting the rate of diffusion
Concentration gradient (difference in concentrations): The greater the difference in concentration, the faster the rate of diffusion
Temperature: The greater the temperature, the greater the movement of particles, resulting in more collisions and therefore a faster rate of diffusion
Surface area of the membrane: The greater the surface area, the more space for particles to move through, resulting in a faster rate of diffusion
Osmosis
The movement of water from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated one through a partially permeable membrane
Osmosis is a passive process, as it does not use energy
Isotonic
If the concentrationofsugar in an external solution is the same as the internal, there will be no movement
Hypertonic
If the concentration of sugar in external solution is higher than the internal, water moves out
Hypotonic
If the concentration of sugar in external solution is lower than the internal, water moves in
Osmosis in animals
If the external solution is more dilute (higher water potential), it will move into animal cells causing them to burst
If the external solution is more concentrated (lower water potential), excess water will leave the cell causing it to become shrivelled
Osmosis in plants
If the external solution is more dilute, water will move into the cell and into the vacuole, causing it to swell, resulting in pressure called turgor (essential in keeping the leaves and stems of plants rigid)
If the external solution is less dilute, water will move out of the cell and they will become soft. Eventually the cell membrane will move away from the cell wall (called plasmolysis) and it will die
Active transport
The movement of particles from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration, i.e. against the concentration gradient
Active transport requires energy from respiration as it is working against the gradient
Active transport in root hair cells
They take up water and mineral ions (for healthy growth) from the soil
Mineral ions are usually in higher concentrations in the cells, meaning diffusion cannot take place
This requires energy from respiration to work
Active transport in the gut
Substances such as glucose and amino acids from your food have to move from your gut into your bloodstream
Sometimes there can be a lower concentration of sugar molecules in the gut than the blood, meaning diffusion cannot take place
Active transport is required to move the sugar to the blood against its concentration gradient
Mitosis
A type of cell division where one cell divides to form two identical daughter cells
Cell cycle
A series of steps that the cell has to undergo in order to divide by mitosis
Interphase
The cell grows, organelles (such as ribosome and mitochondria) grow and increase in number, the synthesis of proteins occurs, all 46 chromosomes are replicated (forming the characteristic 'X' shape) and energy stores are increased
Mitosis
The chromosomes line up at the equator of the cell and spindle fibres pull each chromosome of the 'X' to either side of the cell
Cytokinesis
Two identical daughter cells form when the cytoplasm and cell membranes divide, each containing the same 46 chromosomes as the original cell
Importance of mitosis in multicellular organisms
Growth and development
Replacing damaged cells
Asexual reproduction
Differentiation
A process that involves the cell gaining new sub-cellular structures in order for it to be suited to its role
Stem cells
Undifferentiated cells which can undergo division to produce many more similar cells, some of which will differentiate to have different functions
Types of stem cells
Embryonic stem cells
Adult stem cells
Meristems in plants
Embryonic stem cells
Form when an egg and sperm cell fuse to form a zygote
They can differentiate into any type of cell in the body
Scientists can clone these cells (though culturing them) and direct them to differentiate into almost any cell in the body
Adult stem cells
If found in bone marrow they can form many types of cells (not any type, like embryonic stem cells can) including blood cells
Meristems in plants
Found in root and shoot tips
They can differentiate into any type of plant, and have this ability throughout the life of the plant
They can be used to make clones of the plant
Surface area to volume ratio
The size of the surface area of the organism compared to its volume
If the surface area to volume ratio is large, the organism is less likely to require specialised exchange surfaces and a transport system because the rate of diffusion is sufficient in supplying and removing the necessary gases
Adaptations in multicellular organisms to increase surface area to volume ratio
Having a large surface area
Increasing the number of exchange surfaces
Developing transport systems
Arent plant
Has certain desirable features (such as disease resistance), for research or to save a rare plant from extinction
Challenges of size
Exchange systems (2.2a and b)
Multicellular organisms have a small surface area to volume ratio compared to the amount of substances they need to exchange
Calculating surface area to volume ratio
Find the volume (length x width x height) and the surface area (length x width), and write the ratio in the smallest whole numbers
Large surface area to volume ratio
The organism is less likely to require specialised exchange surfaces and a transport system because the rate of diffusion is sufficient in supplying and removing the necessary gases
Multicellular organisms have had to adapt to increase this ratio as much as possible