Means Of Transport
Chapter Name : Transport In Plants |
Sub Topic Code : 103_11_11_01_02 |
Topic Name : Means Of Transport |
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Sub Topic Name : Facilitated Diffusion |
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Introduction
Movement of molecules in the plants that have a hydrophilic part can be transported only when they have certain special proteins such as porins or aquaporins. This is termed as facilitated diffusion.
Pre-Requisites:
• Passive diffusion. • Concentration gradient.
Real Life Question:
How trees in forest that survive and grow for so many years get their nutrients to be alive for so long and keep growing?
Key Words / FlashCards
| Key Words | Definitions (pref. in our own words) |
|---|---|
| Facilitated diffusion | Movement of molecules from plants with the help of proteins such as porins and aquaporins. |
| Energy requirement | No energy is required. |
| Porins | Proteins that form huge pores in the outer membranes of plastids, mitochondria, and bacteria allowing molecules to pass through. |
| Aquaporins | Extracellular molecule bound to the transport protein which rotates and releases the molecule inside the cell. |
Learning aids / Gadgets
| Gadgets | How it can be used |
|---|---|
| Observe a leaf of a plant under a microscope | Try to look for pores on the surface of the leaf and study its structure. |
| Observe various plants in a garden or farm | See the different requirements of nutritional elements by different plants. |
Real life uses :
Not all molecules in plants require transport by facilitated diffusion. Some have different mechanisms for transport.
Places to visit :
Garden, botany laboratory
Practical examples around us
| Examples | Explainations |
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What you learn in Theory:
Facilitated movement of molecules in plants with the help of transport proteins.
What you learn in Practice:
Movement of different substances depends on its passage through the lipid bilayer. If they have hydrophilic part, they move with the help of carrier proteins.