Active Transport

• Active transport


  Moves substances from a more dilute solution to a more concentrated solution, against the concentration gradient, requiring energy from respiration
• Diffusion


  Particles move down the concentration gradient, does not require energy from respiration
• Active transport


  Particles are moved against the concentration gradient, requires energy from respiration
• Active transport in animals

  • Cells lining the human small intestine transport sugars from the lumen (lower concentration) into the cell (higher concentration)
• Cells lining the human small intestine

  • Have many mitochondria to provide the energy for active transport
• Active transport in plants

  • Root hair cells transport ions such as magnesium from the soil (lower concentration) into the cell (higher concentration)
• Root hair cells


  • Have many mitochondria to provide the energy for active transport
• Plants need magnesium to make chlorophyll in the leaves
• The concentration of ions in the soil is lower than the concentration inside the root hair cell
• Active transport allows mineral ions to be absorbed into plant root hairs from very dilute solutions in the soil. Plants require ions for healthy growth.
• It also allows sugar molecules to be absorbed from lower concentrations in the gut into the blood which has a higher sugar concentration. Sugar molecules are used for cell respiration.