Question

Give a real life analogy depicting passive diffusion and facilitated transport (feel free to be creative.)

Answer 1

Diffusion is Physical movement of solute molecules or ions, from higher concentration to lower concentration.

Diffusion may be classified as:

• Simple or passive diffusion- it is not related to transport across membranes or does not require membrane proteins for transport.

Real life example-

A music show is going on in an auditorium. Only few people are sitting inside.Many seats are still not occupied. A group pf people arrives at the gate. They are allowed in to fill the seats.

• Facilitated diffusion or transport: Movement of molecules or ions through membranes, with aid of transmembrane integral proteins, from higher to lower concentration or towards concentration gradient. (Without energy expenditure). Like the uniport transport proteins.

Real life example-  

A seminar is being conducted in the conference hall. There are vacant seats. A group of people arrives at the gate. Only people with the invitation card are allowed in. Here the cards acting as transport proteins.