Examples of Active Transport:

• In Root Hair Cells:

• Function: Root hair cells absorb water and essential mineral ions from the soil, which are crucial for healthy plant growth.

• Challenge: The concentration of mineral ions is often higher inside the root hair cells than in the surrounding soil, so diffusion alone cannot move these ions into the cells.

• Solution: Active transport is used to move these mineral ions into the root hair cells, even when the concentration gradient would naturally push them out. This process requires energy from respiration to function effectively.

• In the Gut:

• Function: The gut absorbs nutrients such as glucose and amino acids from digested food into the bloodstream, where they can be transported to cells for energy and growth.

• Challenge: Sometimes, the concentration of glucose and amino acids in the gut may be lower than in the blood, which would prevent diffusion from occurring.

• Solution: Active transport is required to move these nutrients from the gut into the bloodstream against their concentration gradient. This ensures that the body can absorb all available nutrients, even when their concentrations are lower in the gut than in the blood.