Osmosis,
Diffusion,
Active Transport
Diffusion, Osmosis and
Concentration Gradient
Diffusion – the movement of a substance
from a high concentration to a low
concentration
Osmosis – the movement of WATER from
a high concentration to a low
concentration.
Concentration Gradient – the difference in
concentration between a region of high
concentration and a region of lower
concentration
Passive or Active Transport:
Passive Transport - does not
require cell energy
Examples: Diffusion, Facilitated
diffusion and Osmosis
Active Transport Requires cell
energy (ATP)
Examples: Carrier mediated active
transport, Endocytosis and
Exocytosis
Methods of Transport:
1. Diffusion: the random movement of
particles of a solute from an area of
higher concentration to an area of lower
concentration.
Particles always move with (down) a
concentration gradient (the difference in
concentrations across a membrane).
Passive transport.
animations
Equilibrium
Diffusion stops at equilibrium (when the
concentrations across a membrane are equal).
The movement of molecules continues at
equilibrium but the # of molecules moving
across the membrane remains the same.
The rate of transport is dependent on:
1) if the material is solid, liquid or gas.
2) the size of the molecules.
3) temperature
Examples of molecules that can diffuse through
the bilayer: carbon dioxide, oxygen, water but
very, very slowly.
Diffusion through a Plasma
Membrane
Osmosis
Osmosis: the diffusion of water
through a selectively permeable
membrane.
Passive transport
Water molecules move from a higher
concentration OF WATER to a lower
concentration OF WATER.
Water will move to where there is a
greater amount of solute because there
is less water there
Isotonic Solution
Isotonic solutions: the
concentration of solute
inside and outside of the
cell is the same.
Isotonic:
Water in = Water out
No net movement of
water.
Molecules in
equilibrium.
Normal state for animal
cells.
Cell in homeostasis.
Hypotonic Solution
Hypotonic solutions: the concentration
of solute is lower outside the cell than
inside the cell.
Have more water outside the cell so water
moves into the cell
Causes an increase in pressure inside the cell:
called turgor pressure (plants) or osmotic
pressure (animals).
Increase in pressure in animal cells causes
them to swell or even burst; gives plant cells
shape and support.
Example Hypotonic
Hypotonic:
Water enters
cell.
Cell swells and
bursts
(cytolysis).
Give plant cells
shape and
support.
Hypertonic Solution
Hypertonic solutions: the
concentration of solute is higher
outside the cell than inside the cell.
Have more water inside the cell so
water moves out of the cell
Causes a drop in turgor or osmotic
pressure: called plasmolysis.
Plasmolysis causes animal cells to
shrivel up and plants to wilt.
Hypertonic Example
Hypertonic:
Water exits cell.
Cell shrinks
(plasmolysis) due
to water loss.
The effects of osmotic
pressure
Hypo, Iso, Hyper
The effects of osmotic
pressure in a plant cell
Facilitated Diffusion
Particles always move
with (down) a
concentration
gradient.
Uses transport/channel
proteins.
Passive transport.
Usually for specific
molecules such as
glucose.
Facilitated diffusion
stops at equilibrium.
Active transport
Active Transport: requires energy in
the form of ATP.
Capable of moving solute particles against
the conc. gradient (from low conc. to high
conc.)
Uses transport/carrier proteins (protein
pumps) embedded in the plasma membrane.
Carrier proteins are specific for the
molecules that they allow through. The
carrier protein changes shape which
requires energy (ATP).
Active Transport against
the concentration gradient
Active Transport
Endocytosis: a process of taking
material into the cell by means of
infoldings, or pockets, of the cell
membrane (usually putting them into
a vacuole).
Phagocytosis -“Cell eating”
Nonspecific molecules
Intake of solids
Pinocytosis –”Cell Drinking”
Nonspecific molecules
Intake of small droplets of liquid
Active Transport
Exocytosis (reverse endocytosis):
a process in which the membrane of
the vacuole surrounding the material
fuses with the cell membrane,
forcing the contents out of the cell.
EXO and ENDO
