Question

What is the significance of active transport to the survival of a cell?

Answer 1

The possibilities of active transport of substances across membranes was first suggested by German physiologist Emil du Bois-Reymond in the year 1848. This uses metabolic energy to transport molecules across a membrane.

Complete answer:
Active transport is very much important for the survival of a cell because it allows the cell to move substances against the concentration gradient that means molecules are transported from the area of low concentration to the area of high concentration of surrounding. It allows the cell to maintain the appropriate balance of substances without thinking about the concentration of that substance outside the cell.
Active transport is the movement of particles against a concentration or degree gradient. For active transport, energy is required, and during active transport, molecules are transported from a region of low concentration to a region of high concentration.

Additional Information:
-In animals, all the glucose formed in the gut needs to be absorbed and it will be done by the process of active transport. When the glucose concentration in the intestine is lower than in the intestinal cells, the movement of glucose involves active transport. The process requires energy produced by respiration.
-One of the foremost important pumps in animal cells is the sodium-potassium pump which maintains the electrochemical gradient and therefore the perfect concentrations of sodium ion and potassium ion in living cells.
-In plants, active transport within the root hairs allows the plants to soak up mineral ions, which are necessary for healthy growth, albeit the concentration of minerals is generally lower in the soil than in the root hair.
-Active transport plays a vital role in the rapid and selective absorption of nutrients by cells.
-Active transport is generally associated with the accumulation of high concentrations of molecules that are needed by the cells, such as ions, glucose, and amino acids.

Note:
-Active transport plays a very important role in the absorption of most nutrients from the intestine.
-Active transport is very important for maintaining a membrane potential.
-Active transport helps in maintaining water and ionic balance between cells and extracellular fluids.