Cell Transport

Diffusion
• Movement of molecules from areas of high concentration to areas of
low concentration.
• Osmosis is diffusion of water molecules from high water
concentration to low water concentration across a semipermeable
membrane.
• When concentration is equal →equilibrium (same concentration on
both sides of the membrane)
• When at equilibrium → diffusion does not stop
It continues equally in both directions.
Solutions

Solution = solute + solvent

(salt) (water)
Example of solution
Dilute vs. concentrated
Tonicity
• Refers to the concentration of solutes in a solution
• It is a relative term comparing two different solutions
• Hypertonic → more in solute concentration→ more solute,
less water
• Hypotonic → less in solute concentration → less solute,
more water
• Isotonic → equal in solute concentration → =solute, =
water
• Direction of osmosis is determined by comparing total solute
concentrations.
• Water always diffuses by osmosis from hypotonic to hyprtonic.
•Passive transport is transport with the
concentration gradient that is from high
to low concentration. It does not
require energy.
•Active transport is transport against the
concentration gradient from low to high
concentration. It requires energy.
Example of isotonic medium
Draw arrows representing the movement of
water molecules in osmosis
Draw arrows representing the movement of
water molecules in osmosis
In animal cells
•Hypotonic solution → cell bursts/ swollen
The bursting of red blood cells in hypotonic
solution is LYSIS
The decrease in the diameter of the cell is to
SHRIVEL (drying out)
(plant cells)
• In hypertonic solution: Because there is cell wall → cell
membrane gets away from cell wall → plasmolysis
• Plasmolysis = shrinking of the cytoplasm
• In hypotonic solution: cell wall stops cell from bursting
• Turgid: swelling/increase in diameter but does not burst
due to the presence of cell wall.
• when you do not water plants → the plant wilts, does not
stand up, then when you water it → turgid → plant fills
with water but does not burst.
Which molecules can simply pass through the lipid
bilayer? (Simple diffusion, passive transport)

Oxygen (in), water (in and

out, osmosis), Carbon
dioxide (out) → diffuse
simply through the lipid
bilayer.
Which molecules cannot simply diffuse
through the lipid bilayer?

•Glucose, amino acids (big

molecule)
•Charged ions
Need Facilitated diffusion
2 types of protein molecules on cell
membrane that help molecules diffuse
• Facilitated Diffusion: is the diffusion that is helped by
protein channels or carriers found on the cell
membrane. (passive transport)
• Glucose molecules and ions undergo facilitated
diffusion.
• Protein channels help ions diffuse
• Protein channel has gate that opens and closes.
• Protein carriers transport glucose and amino acids.
•No energy needed in passive transport
•From high concentration to low
concentration
•Diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion
Active transport

•From low to high concentration

•Requires energy (from mitochondria of
the cell)
•Pumping ions by using protein pumps
•Energy currency of the cell=ATP
Percent change
• Percent change= final -initial X 100
initial mass
Determine
Identify require justification
Specify
Percent change
Bulk transport
• Transport in great amounts
• Pino→liquid
• Phago → complex molecules

Endocytosis
 Endocytosis
• Endocytosis Step 1.
The cell comes into contact
with a particle.
• Endocytosis Step 2.
The cell membrane begins
to wrap around the particle.
• Endocytosis Step 3.
Once the particle is completely
surrounded, a vesicle pinches off.
• Example: bacteria in WBC
Exocytosis: example release of hormones or
proteins
•In exocytosis, cell membrane becomes
bigger
•In endocytosis, cell membrane becomes
smaller
 Examples: In hypertonic solution
The cell shrinks due to movement
of water molecules from the cell
to the outside medium which is
hypertonic.
There is a decrease in mass,
volume or size.
Initial mass= 2 au
Final mass=1 au
% change= 1-2 X 100= - 50%
2
Negative % change indicating decrease
 Examples
• In hypotonic solution:
Increase in volume or mass or size
of the cell due to movement of
water molecules into the cell
causing swelling.
Initial mass=2 au
Final mass=3 au
% change= final-initial X 100=
initial
3-2 X 100 = 50% (positive value meaning increase)
2
In isotonic solution
Movement of water molecules equally
in both directions into the cell and out
of the cell.
No change in the size, volume, or mass.
Final mass= 2au
Initial mass= 2 au
% change= 2-2 X 100 = 0%
2
0% change indicates there was no change
→ isotonic solution
Percent change

Positive → increase →hypotonic solution

Negative → decrease → hypertonic
Zero → no change → isotonic