Importance of Active Transport
- Energy is needed because particles are being moved against a concentration gradient, in the opposite direction from which they would naturally move (by diffusion)
- Active transport is a vital process for the movement of molecules or ions across membranes
- Including:
- Uptake of glucose by epithelial cells in the villi of the small intestine and by kidney tubules in the nephron
- Uptake of ions from soil water by root hair cells in plants