Osmosis is an example of passive transport. How might the results have changed in this lab if the gummy bear had been able to use active transport to move sugars out?

To understand how the results would have differed if active transport was involved in the movement of sugars out of the gummy bear, it is important to first understand the concept of osmosis and its relation to passive transport.

Osmosis is a type of passive transport where water molecules move across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. In the case of the gummy bear lab, the gummy bear acts as the selectively permeable membrane, and water moves from the surrounding solution (which has a higher concentration of water) into the gummy bear (which has a higher concentration of solutes, such as sugars).

In passive transport, no external energy or cellular activity is required, and the movement occurs along the concentration gradient. On the other hand, active transport involves the movement of ions or molecules across a membrane against their concentration gradient, requiring the use of cellular energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

If the gummy bear had the ability to utilize active transport to move sugars out of its structure, it would mean that it could actively pump the sugars against their concentration gradient, moving them from an area of lower sugar concentration inside the gummy bear to an area of higher sugar concentration in the surrounding solution. This process would require energy and would be independent of the osmosis phenomenon.

In this scenario, some potential changes in the lab results could include:

1. Decreased swelling: Active transport of sugars out of the gummy bear would result in the removal of sugars from its structure. This would create a lower concentration of solutes inside the gummy bear compared to the surrounding solution, potentially reducing the osmotic pressure and thus the amount of water being drawn into the gummy bear. Consequently, the gummy bear might swell less or not swell at all.

2. Reduced diffusion rate: Since active transport is a slower process compared to passive transport, the rate at which sugars diffuse out of the gummy bear would likely be slower. This could lead to a slower overall decrease in the size of the gummy bear as compared to the passive transport scenario.

3. Possible shrinkage: If the active transport process was exceptionally efficient at removing sugars from the gummy bear, it could potentially lead to a situation where the concentration of solutes inside the gummy bear becomes lower than that of the surrounding solution. In this case, water might move from the gummy bear to the surrounding solution, causing the gummy bear to shrink.

It is important to note that these changes are theoretical and are dependent on the efficiency and power of the active transport process. In reality, gummy bears do not possess active transport mechanisms, and osmosis remains the primary mode of transport for water and solutes across their membranes.