What must a cell do in order to take in water, oxygen, and other substances.
In order for a cell to take in water, oxygen, and other substances, it needs to go through a process called cellular transport. There are two main ways that cells can accomplish this:
1. Passive Transport: Passive transport does not require energy expenditure by the cell. It includes three different mechanisms:
a. Diffusion: Substances, like oxygen and water, move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, across the cell membrane. This process occurs until an equilibrium is reached, meaning the concentrations are equal on both sides of the membrane.
b. Osmosis: This is a specific type of diffusion that focuses on the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane. Water moves from an area of lower solute concentration (higher water concentration) to an area of higher solute concentration (lower water concentration), in order to balance the concentration on both sides of the membrane.
c. Facilitated diffusion: Certain substances, like large molecules or ions, require help to cross the cell membrane. Proteins embedded in the membrane act as channels or carriers to assist in the facilitation of their movement.
2. Active Transport: Active transport requires energy expenditure by the cell, usually in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This process is used when cells need to move substances against their concentration gradient, from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration. Active transport is performed by specific proteins called pumps, which use energy to transport molecules or ions across the cell membrane.
Overall, cells have various mechanisms to take in water, oxygen, and other substances by utilizing either passive or active transport processes depending on the specific requirements of the substances and the needs of the cell.