Active and passive transport

Active transport

The term active transport is defined as the movement of molecules through a cell membrane from an area of ​​low concentration to an area of ​​high concentration or in the opposite direction to some gradient or obstructing factor.

It uses the energy of cells to move them against a polar repulsion gradient or some other type of resistance that may arise. It is associated with the accumulation of high concentrations of molecules that a cell may need such as ions, glucose, and amino acids.

If it consumes chemical energy such as ATP it is called primary active transport, if it makes use of some type of electrochemical gradient it is called secondary active transport.

As an example of this type of transport, we have the uptake of glucose in the human intestines and the uptake of mineral ions in the cells that make up the hairs of the roots of plants.

Passive transport

It is the movement of biochemical, atomic, or molecular substances through the membranes of a cell without spending energy. It is due to a change produced by the growth of the entropy of the system.

It will depend on the permeability of the cell membrane and this in turn depends on the organization and characteristics of the lipids and proteins that make it up.

The four main types of passive transport are simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion filtration, and osmosis.

suggested video: Active transport vs Passive transport 

Difference between Active and Passive Transport

• Active transport uses energy in cells to move molecules against a gradient or type of resistance.
• Passive transport uses the kinetic energy and natural entropy that molecules have to move down a gradient.