Active Transport

 

Substances move from an area of LOW concentration to an area of high concentration across a permeable membrane

  • Across a concentration gradient so requires energy from mitochondria

Root hair cells:

  • Plants need mineral ions for healthy growth
  • The concentration of minerals is usually higher in the root hair than in the soil
  • Therefore root hair cells can’t use diffusion to take up minerals

Active transport happens in humans e.g. taking glucose from the gut and kidney tubules

  • Lower concentration of nutrients in the gut to a higher concentration of nutrients in the blood
  • Glucose, taken from the gut can be taken into the bloodstream and transported to cells to be used for respiration