CELL TRANSPORT

Diffusion, Active Transport

& Osmosis

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 1

CELL TRANSPORT

& Scope
 Diffusion
 Active transport
 Osmosis
 Water potential
 Osmosis in plant & animal cells
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 2
Diffusion

 Particle Model of Matter

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Diffusion

 Concentration Gradient
The difference in concentration between
two regions e.g. (A) and (B)

A 6 B
2

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Diffusion

 A random movement of molecules from

a region of their high concentration (A)
towards a region of their low
concentration (B)

A 6 B
2

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 5

Diffusion

 During diffusion, molecules move down

the concentration gradient

A B
6
2

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 6

Diffusion

 During diffusion, molecules move down

the concentration gradient until a state
of equilibrium is reached.

A B
4 4

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 7

Diffusion

 This random movement of molecules is a

result of Brownian motion

 Simulation of diffusion

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 8

Diffusion

 Factors Affecting Rate of Diffusion

 High Concentration Gradients
increase the rate of diffusion

 Rise in Temperature
increases the rate of diffusion

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 9

Diffusion

 Factors Affecting Rate of Diffusion

 Significance of S.A.:Vol Ratio

A B

6:1  S.A.:Vol. Ratio →10.5:1

Which block will become completely diffused first?
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 10
Active Transport

 A selective movement of molecules

across living cell membrane

 Requires energy from respiration

 Molecules are usually transported up a

concentration gradient

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 11

Active Transport

 Carrier proteins in the cell membrane

involved glucose

cell membrane

carrier
glucose proteins glucose

glucose
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 12
Active Transport

 Carrier proteins in the cell membrane

change their shape

cell membrane

glucose glucose

glucose
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 13
Active Transport

 Active Transport Video

 Focus on carrier proteins using energy to
change their shape

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 14

Diffusion vs Active Transport
 Diffusion  Active Transport
 Not selective  Selective
 Substances move  Substances can
only down a move against a
concentration concentration
gradient gradient
 Living membrane not  Living membrane
essential essential
 Cells provide no  Cellular respiration
energy provides energy for
©Michael Rodrigues absorption
michaelr@singnet.com.sg 15
Osmosis

 Definition:
 Osmosis is the diffusion of water only, across
a selectively permeable membrane, from a
region of high water potential (a weak
solution) to a region of low water potential (a
strong solution)

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 16

Osmosis

 Definition (alternative):
 Osmosis is the diffusion of water only,
through a selectively permeable membrane,
from where water is in high concentration (a
weak solution) to where water is in low
concentration (a strong solution)

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 17

Osmosis

 Requires no respiration

 Requires live cell membrane for osmosis

to occur in cells, but will happen with
suitable non-living membranes (e.g.
Visking dialysis membrane)

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 18

Osmosis

Animal Cell

 Simulation of osmosis
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 19
Osmosis

Animal Cell
Cell
membrane

 Simulation of osmosis
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 20
Osmosis

Animal Cell
Cell
membrane

 Simulation of osmosis
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 21
Water Potential

 used to describe the movement of water

 it is the tendency for water to move from

one place to another

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 22

Water Potential

 Dilute solutions have a higher water

potential

 Concentrated solutions have a lower

water potential

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 23

Water Potential Explained
selectively
permeable
membrane

A B

 No nett movement of water molecules

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 24
Water Potential Explained
selectively
permeable
membrane

A B
 Does a concentration gradient for water molecules exist?
 In which direction are water molecules likely to move?
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 25
Water Potential Explained
selectively
permeable
membrane

More concentrated -> Less concentrated ->

lower water potential higher water potential

A B
 There is a higher tendency for water molecules to move
from solution B to solution A. Therefore, solution B has
a higher water potential than solution A.
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 26
Water Potential Explained
selectively
permeable
membrane

A B
 A dilute solution has more water molecules per unit
volume than a concentrated solution. Therefore it has
a higher water potential than the concentrated solution.
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 27
Water Potential Explained
selectively
permeable
membrane

A B

 Water always moves from a solution of

higher water potential to a lower one
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 28
Comparing Solutions

 Hypotonic solution

 Isotonic solution

 Hypertonic solution

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 29

 Comparing Solutions

 Hypotonic solution
selectively
permeable
membrane
dilute sugar A B
solution C D
concentrated
sugar solution dilute sugar
solution

 Hypotonic: the dilute sugar solution A

(higher water potential) is hypotonic
with respect to the concentrated sugar
solution B (lower
©Michael Rodrigues
water potential)
michaelr@singnet.com.sg 30
 Comparing Solutions

 Isotonic solution
selectively
permeable
membrane
dilute sugar A B
solution C D
concentrated
sugar solution conc sugar
solution

 Isotonic: solutions C and D that have the

same water potential, are said to be
isotonic.
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 31
 Comparing Solutions

 Hypertonic solution
selectively
permeable
membrane
dilute sugar A B
solution C D
concentrated
sugar solution dilute sugar
solution

 Hypertonic: solution B (lower water

potential) is hypertonic with respect to
solution A (higher water potential)
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 32
Osmosis in Animal Cells

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 33

Osmosis in Animal Cells

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 34

Osmosis in Animal Cells

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 35

Osmosis

 Exosmosis
 movement of water out of a cell due to
osmosis
 i.e. water exits a cell

 Endosmosis
 movement of water into a cell due to osmosis
 i.e. water enters a cell
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 36
Osmosis in Plant Cells

Isotonic

Water molecules
move equally in both
directions
Dynamic equilibrium
– No net movement
©Michael Rodrigues
ofmichaelr@singnet.com.sg
water molecules 37
Osmosis in Plant Cells

Isotonic

Water molecules
move equally in both
directions

Dynamic equilibrium
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 38
Osmosis in Plant Cells

Isotonic

Water molecules
move equally in both
directions

Dynamic equilibrium
©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 39
 Practical Activity 2.1

Effects of osmosis on plant

cells

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 40

 In H2O

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 41

 In 5% NaCl

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 42

 Refreshed with H2O

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 43

 END

©Michael Rodrigues michaelr@singnet.com.sg 44