What is active transport?
In GCSE biology, active transport is defined as the movement of particles across a membrane from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration. This movement occurs against a concentration gradient, so energy is required. During active transport, particles must travel via a protein carrier molecule rather than directly across the membrane.
An example of active transport in GCSE biology is the movement of mineral ions from the soil into root hair cells in plants. In animals, active transport can occur in the intestine to move glucose from the lumen of the intestine into the surrounding blood capillaries.
Active transport revision resources to ace your exams
You can explore the topic of active transport further as part of our selection of revision notes on transport in and out of cells:
Our GCSE Biology resources have all you need to prepare you for your exams, from revision notes, videos, and flashcards to past papers and mark schemes.
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