Transport Across Biological Membranes

Abstract

This activity serves as a first introduction to primary active, secondary active, and facilitated diffusion across biological membranes. Students will explore an analogized model of a given transport type to invent transport concepts of energy requirements, movement in relation to gradients, transport proteins, and energy coupling. Students then apply these concepts to a cellular model. This cycle of analogy model followed by application to a cellular model repeats for each type of transport. The activity does not introduce electrical gradients in models but includes an extension question on this concept for instructors.  

Level: Undergraduate or AP Biology
Setting: Classroom
Type: Learning Cycle
Discipline: Biology
Course: Introductory Biology
Keywords: transport, facilitated diffusion, primary active, secondary active