Biology 1 – 11/12

I. INTRODUCTORY CONCEPT
Do you still remember the structure of plasma membrane? I am sure you still do. As you
previously learned, plasma membrane is a thin membrane that surrounds every living cell,
delimiting the cell from the environment around it. Like all biological membranes, the plasma
membrane exhibits selective permeability; that is, it allows some substances to cross it more
easily than the others.

In this lesson, you will learn how cellular membranes control the passage of substances.

Figure 1. Updated model of an animal cell’s plasma membrane (cutaway view).

Reece, et.al., Campbell Biology, 125.

II. LEARNING COMPETENCIES

● Explain transport mechanisms in cells (diffusion, osmosis, facilitated transport, active
transport). (STEM_BIO11/12-lg-h-13)
● Differentiate exocytosis and endocytosis. (STEM_BIO11/12-lg-h-13)

III. ACTIVITIES
Elicit:
Let● us test first your prior
knowledge
● of our topic today.
Find all the words that are
●
associated with Transport
●
Mechanism.
__________________
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__________________
ENGAGE:
Do you now have an idea about our topic? Cell transport refers to the movement of
substances across the cell membrane. Let’s perform the next activities to find out more about
cell transport mechanisms!

The illustration below shows passive and active transport, what

do you think is the difference between the two. Write your answer

Fig. 3. Simple Diffusion

Fig. 2. Passive & Active Transport

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbyjus.com%2Fbiology%2Fdiffusion
%2F&psig=AOvVaw1exd7Ir1VdCUPU9PdYs7N&ust=1596849946806000&source=images&c
d=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCOCYueX3h-sCFQAAAAAdAAAAABA6

1. What happened to the dye molecules? 2. What happened to the water molecules?

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 OSMOSIS

Fig. 4. Osmosis Fig. 5. Facilitated Diffusion

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2Fscience https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbyjus.com%2Fbiology%2Ffacilitated-
%2Fosmosis&psig=AOvVaw01qpZVZRqpIrQo9BPxyTkQ&ust=1596851435902000&sour diffusion
ce=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCIC7ibn9h-sCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD %2F&psig=AOvVaw0DMV8AF9ZuhkmRDVayJg2q&ust=1596852095899000&source=images&cd=vf
e&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCOCn4-f_h-sCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAK

3. How did the molecules pass through/enter 4. How is facilitated diffusion different from
the membrane? simple diffusion?

EXPLORE:
To get a better understanding of the different transport mechanisms, perform the next
activity below.
A. Water Movement in Potatoes
Materials:
1 medium sized potato, knife and chopping board, 2 glasses or beakers, sugar,
spoon, kitchen paper, water

Note: Ideally you should use distilled water for this experiment. If you don’t have any, tap
water will work.

Procedure:
1. Cut at least 4 ‘chips’ from the potato and remove any skin. (about 0.5 mm in
thickness)

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 2. Put water into the glasses. Stir sugar into one of the glasses until you have a
concentrated solution. (A concentrated solution is one that has a relatively large
amount of dissolved solute.)
3. Put two or three of your chips into each of the glasses. You may need to hold the
potato into the sugar water with the spoon.
4. Leave the chips for about 40 minutes then remove from the solution and dry carefully
with kitchen paper.
5. What do you notice about the potato chips from each solution?

Guide Questions:

1. What happened to the potato chips submerged in water?

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2. Why do you think your answer in number 1 happened?

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3. What happened to the potato chips submerged in water with dissolved sugar?
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4. Why do you think your answer in number 3 happened?

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B. The Candy Problem

Materials:
1 plastic shopping bag, 1 pair of scissors, 15 cm of string, 4 pieces of wrapped
candy

Procedure:
With the materials on hand, you are challenged to get the candy into their bag according
to the following rules:
o The candy must enter through a solid part of the bag.
o The inside of the bag may not be directly open to the external environment.
o The candies entering the bag must remain clustered together.
o You may work with your hands in the bag to act as the inside of a cell.
o The candy may be eaten only if it enters the bag "cell" under the specified
conditions.

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Guide Questions:

1. How did you get the candy into the bag following the rules given? Illustrate your
procedure and provide explanation.

2. After doing the activity, how will you get the candy out of the bag following the same
rules? Illustrate your procedure and provide explanation.

3. Relate the activity with the bulk transport mechanisms: endocytosis and exocytosis.
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EXPLAIN:
1.Why is it important to know the different transport mechanisms?

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2.In your own words, differentiate exocytosis from endocytosis.

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ELABORATE:
Cell transport refers to the movement of substances across the cell membrane. The
most important feature of a cell's phospholipid membrane is that they are selectively permeable,
it has control over what molecules or ions can enter or leave the cell. This feature allows the cell
to control the transport of materials, as dictated by the cell's function. The permeability of a
membrane is dependent on the organization and characteristics of the membrane lipids and

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proteins. In this way, cell membranes help maintain a state of homeostasis within cells (and
tissues, organs, and organ systems) so that an organism can stay alive and healthy.
Movement of materials across a biological membrane may occur either actively or
passively.

Passive transport involves the movement of material along a

PASSIVE TRANSPORT concentration gradient (high concentration ⇒ low
concentration). Because materials are moving down a
concentration gradient, it does not require the expenditure of energy (ATP hydrolysis). There
are three main types of passive transport:

1. Simple Diffusion- is the net movement of molecules from a region of high concentration
to a region of low concentration. This directional movement along a gradient is passive
and will continue until molecules become evenly dispersed (equilibrium). Small and non-
polar (lipophilic) molecules will be able to freely diffuse across cell membranes (e.g., O2,
CO2, glycerol). The rate of diffusion can be influenced by several factors, including
temperature (affects kinetic energy of particles in solution), molecular size (larger
particles are subjected to greater resistance within a fluid medium), and steepness of
gradient (rate of diffusion will be greater with a higher concentration gradient).

Fig. 6. Diffusion of one solute Figure 7. Diffusion of two solutes.

Reece, et.al., Campbell Biology, 131. Reece, et.al., Campbell Biology, 131.

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 2. Osmosis- is the net movement of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane
from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration (until
equilibrium is reached). Because solutes cannot cross a cell membrane unaided, water
will move to equalize the two solutions. At a higher solute concentration there are less
free water molecules in solution as water is associated with the solute. Osmosis is
essentially the diffusion of free water molecules and hence occurs from regions of low
solute concentration.

Fig. 8. Osmosis
Reece, et.al., Campbell Biology, 131.

The movement of water across cell membranes and the balance of water between the
cell and its environment are crucial to organisms. To explain the behavior of a cell in a solution,
we must consider both solute concentration and membrane permeability.

Fig. 9. Types of solution

Reece, et.al., Campbell Biology, 132.

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 3. Facilitated Diffusion- is the passive movement of molecules across the cell membrane
via the aid of a membrane protein. It is utilized by molecules that are unable to freely
cross the phospholipid bilayer (e.g., large, polar molecules and ions). This process is
mediated by two distinct types of transport proteins – channel proteins and carrier
proteins.

Fig. 10. Facilitated Diffusion

Reece, et.al., Campbell Biology, 133.

ACTIVE
TRANSPORT

Active transport uses

energy to move molecules
against a concentration
gradient. This energy may
either be generated by:
direct hydrolysis of ATP
(primary active transport),
and indirectly coupling
transport with another
molecule that is moving
along its gradient
(secondary active
transport).

Fig. 11. Sodium-Potassium Pump: a specific case of active transport.

Reece, et.al., Campbell Biology, 135.

Water and small solutes enter and leave the cell by diffusing through the lipid bilayer of
the plasma membrane or by being pumped or moved across the membrane by transport
proteins. However, large molecules—such as proteins and polysaccharides, as well as larger

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particles—generally cross the membrane in bulk, packaged in vesicles. Vesicles and cell
membranes are both comprised of a lipid bilayer, which is why they are capable of fusing with
the cell membrane. This fusion between vesicles and the plasma membrane facilitates bulk
transport both into and out of the cell. Like active transport, these processes require energy.

Endocytosis is the process by which cells take in substances from outside

Endocytosis of the cell by engulfing them in a vesicle. It occurs when a portion of the
cell membrane folds in on itself, encircling extracellular fluid and various
molecules or microorganisms. The resulting vesicle breaks off and is transported within the cell.
Endocytosis serves many purposes, including:

⮚ taking in nutrients for cellular growth, function, and repair.

⮚ capturing pathogens or other unknown substances that may endanger the organism.

⮚ disposing of old or damaged cells

Types of Endocytosis

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 Fig. 12. Types of Endocytosis
Reece, et.al., Campbell Biology, 138.

Exocytosis
Exocytosis is the process by which cells move materials from within the cell
into the extracellular fluid. It occurs when a vesicle fuses with the plasma membrane, allowing
its contents to be released outside the cell. Exocytosis serves the following purposes:

⮚ removing toxins or waste products from the cell’s interior

⮚ facilitating cellular communication

⮚ facilitating cellular membrane growth, repair, signaling and migration

Types of Exocytosis

In constitutive exocytosis, extracellular In regulated exocytosis, the expulsion

signals are not required. The majority of the materials is controlled, or
of molecules traveling to the plasma regulated, by extracellular signals that
membrane do so using this pathway. cause membrane depolarization.

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Evaluate:
A: Instruction: Complete The sentences below. Choose your answer from the box. (Note: A
word may be used more than once.)

Cell transport Passive transport Active transport Diffusion

Osmosis Facilitated diffusion Endocytosis Exocytosis
Phagocytosis Pinocytosis Energy Concentration gradient
High Low Equilibrium Swell
Shriveled Solute

1. Active transport can move substances against their ________________.

2. The difference between active and passive transport is that active transport
requires ______________ while passive transport does not.
3-4. In diffusion, the net movement of molecules is from a region
___________concentration to a region of ___________ concentration.
5-7. In __________ the net movement of water molecules is from a region of
__________ solute concentration to a region of __________solute concentration.
8. Facilitated diffusion is a type of _______________.
9. __________ refers to the movement of substances across the cell membrane.

B: Instruction: Arrange the key steps in Sodium – Potassium Pump by writing numbers 1 to 6.

10. In a hypertonic solution, a cell tends to ___________.

_____A. This translocates the potassium across the membrane, completing the ion
exchange.

_____B. The pump undergoes a conformational change, translocating sodium across

the membrane.

_____C. Three sodium ions bind to intracellular sites on the sodium-potassium pump.

_____D. The conformational change exposes two potassium binding sites on the
extracellular surface of the pump.

_____E. A phosphate group is transferred to the pump via the hydrolysis of ATP.

_____F. The phosphate group is released which causes the pump to return to its original
conformation.

C: Instruction: Write TRUE if the statement is correct, if FALSE change the underlined word/s
to make the statement correct.

__________1. Endocytosis and exocytosis are types of passive transport.

__________2. For the cell to maintain homeostasis, waste materials are removed from
these cells via endocytosis.

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 __________3. In regulated exocytosis, the release of materials is controlled by
extracellular signals.

__________4. White blood cells engulfing a virus and eliminating it is an example of

exocytosis.

__________5. Endocytosis is the process of taking in a particle or substance from

outside of the cell using a vesicle.

__________6. Phagocytosis and Pinocytosis are types of endocytosis.

__________7. Vesicles are little sacs that separate its contents from the cytoplasm.

__________8. Exocytosis helps in facilitating cellular communication.

__________9. Pinocytosis is the process by which cells internalize large particles like
damaged cells and bacteria.

__________10. Disposing of old or damaged cells is done through Exocytosis.

EXTEND:
Complete the table below:

Passive Transport Active Transport

Definition

Movement of Molecules
Along Concentration
Gradient

Examples

IV. REFLECTION

I have learned that

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 I wish to ask my teacher about
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