Active and passive transport is a biological process that supplies Nutrients, water and oxygen to cells and also removes waste products. Both active and passive transport works for the same cause, but with different movement. Active transport is the biochemical movement and uses chemical energy. It circulates from lower concentration areas to higher concentration. On the contrary, passive transport moves inverse i.e., from higher concentrated areas to lower one.
Active Transport
Inactive transportations, molecules move against the concentration gradient. This process requires chemical energy to move biochemical compounds from low to high. It uses ATP to pump molecules through a concentration gradient. Exocytosis, endocytosis and sodium potassium are few examples of active transport. Complex sugar, ions, large cells, proteins and other particles are transported in this process.
Active transport has two types: primary and secondary. In the primary active transport, the substance has to be transported and needs to pumps using the chemical energy ATP. While, in the secondary active transport, proteins in cell-membrane uses the electromagnetic gradient to move across.
Passive Transport
The passive transport does not need any energy for transporting as the biochemicals move from high to low concentration. Easy soluble particles are transported through passive transport, for example, osmosis, diffusion and facilitated diffusion. Passive transport is important to maintain the equilibrium in a cell. Further, wastes like water or carbon dioxide are separated and moved out of the cell using passive transport. Meanwhile, nutrients like oxygen that are functional for the cell are diffused in this process.
Difference and comparison of Active and Passive Transport |
|
Active Transport | Passive Transport |
It uses ATP to pump molecules upwards | Molecules move downwards |
Cell membrane pump, endocytosis, and exocytosis are few transport types. | Osmosis, diffusion and facilitated diffusion are few types. |
Complex sugars, ions, large cells, and proteins are few particles gets transported. | Solubles like oxygen, carbon dioxide, monosaccharides, sex hormones, and water, etc are few particles that get transported. |
The main function is to transport molecules via the cell membrane. | To maintain dynamic equilibrium of gases, water, nutrients, etc. |
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