Question

Are passive transport and facilitated diffusion the same thing?

Answer 1

Passive transport:

1. Passive transport is the simplest form of transport across a membrane.
2. They do not require any energy to transport or any substance to diffuse down their concentration gradient.
3. Example: Movement of small or lipophilic molecules.

Facilitated diffusion:

1. Facilitated diffusion is the transport in which substances diffuse from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
2. They allow the specific molecule to transport across the membrane along the concentration gradient.
3. It involves the presence of specific membrane proteins that help in the translocation of substances across the membrane.
4. Example: Movement of glucose and amino acid from the bloodstream into the cell.
5. Facilitated diffusion is a type of passive transport which allows the substance to diffuse from higher concentration to lower concentration.