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Question

What is the difference between active transport and facilitated diffusion?

3 years ago

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27 Replies

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15162 views

A

Amelia White


27 Answers

G
Georgia

Active transport occurs against a concentration gradient and so requires energy from ATP whereas facilitated diffusion occurs down a concentration gradients ( from high concentration to low concentration) and so does not require any energy.

P
Pragathi Manahari

Active transport requires energy and moves the substances from low concentration to high concentration. But facilitated diffusion is passive transport which requires no energy and transport substances from high concentration to low concentration

O
Omole Aigbokhaode

Active Transport is a cellular process that uses energy to move molecules and ions across membranes from an area of high concentration to low concentration, against the concentration gradient. Facilitated diffusion does not require energy (ATP). Both processes involve carrier proteins. A molecule will attach to the carrier protein, causing a conformational change in the protein and releasing the molecule on the other side.

A
Adewole Adekola

The main differences between active transport and facilitated diffusion are the direction of the transported material in relation to the concentration gradient and the use of energy. In facilitated diffusion, materials are transported from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration (through a concentration gradient) without the use of energy. In contrast, in active transport, active use of energy (e.g. in the form of ATP) is used to actively move materials from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration (against the concentration gradient).

S
Sami H

Active transport involves ATP, as molecules are being moved from a low concentration, to a high concentration, against a concentration gradient. Facilitated diffusion does not require ATP, as molecules are naturally diffusing from a high to low concentration, down a concentration gradient. However, both involve molecules binding to carrier proteins, and travelling across a semi-permeable membrane.

I
Ioan Jenkins

Active transport requires energy in order to move ions and molecules against a concentration gradient while facilitated diffusion occurs down a concentration gradient and hence requires no energy input in the form of ATP.

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Tatiana C Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

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Hello,


Good question.

Active transport is the movement of substances from low to high concentration, therefore it requires energy in the form of ATP. So, we call active transport an "active process".


Facilitated diffusion is the movement of substances from a high to low concentration, with the use of carrier or protein channels, as it's going down the concentration gradient it does not require energy. Therefore, facilitated diffusion is a "passive process".

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Hello, active transport is an 'active' process therefore the use of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is required. On the other hand, facilitated diffusion is a 'passive' process thus it does not require ATP.

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C
Charlotte Hardy

Facilitated diffusion follows a concentration gradient (from high to low) whereas active transport is the opposite - moving molecules from low concentration to high concentration. Both involve a intermediary carrier like a protein channel or a carrier, but active transport requires the use of ATP to go against the concentration gradient, and facilitated diffusion is passive, merely helped by the carrier across a membrane to follow the gradient.

M
Maha Farman

The difference between facilitated diffusion and active transport is that facilitated diffusion is down a concentration gradient whereas active transport is against the concentration gradient so from a low to high concentration. Facilitated diffusion requires channel or carrier proteins whereas active transport requires only carrier proteins.

S
Sumbal Khan

Active transport requires energy ATP in order to take place as you are going against the concentration gradient.


Facilitated diffusion is still passive however it required protein channels across the phospholipid membrane to take place.

D
David Mccrae

Active Transport requires energy (ATP). Diffusion does not

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