AP Biology Flashcards: Facilitated Diffusion

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Facilitated Diffusion, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Biology.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Identify the role of transport proteins in facilitated diffusion.

Answer: They assist in moving substances across membranes. Proteins provide selective pathways for specific molecules.

Flashcard 2: Is facilitated diffusion specific to certain molecules?

Answer: Yes, it is selective. Proteins have specific binding sites for target molecules.

Flashcard 3: Identify one similarity between facilitated diffusion and osmosis.

Answer: Both are passive transport processes. Both use concentration gradients without energy input.

Flashcard 4: What is the role of the lipid bilayer in facilitated diffusion?

Answer: It acts as a barrier to polar or charged molecules. Prevents direct passage of hydrophilic molecules.

Flashcard 5: What is the difference between simple and facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Facilitated uses proteins; simple does not. Key distinction is protein requirement for selectivity.

Flashcard 6: Do carrier proteins require ATP to function?

Answer: No, not in facilitated diffusion. Facilitated diffusion is energy-independent.

Flashcard 7: Does facilitated diffusion involve a change in protein shape?

Answer: Yes, in carrier proteins. Conformational changes enable molecular transport.

Flashcard 8: Does facilitated diffusion move molecules against the concentration gradient?

Answer: No, it moves with the concentration gradient. Follows natural diffusion from high to low concentration.

Flashcard 9: What is a channel protein?

Answer: A protein that forms a pore for ions to pass through. Creates a selective tunnel through the membrane.

Flashcard 10: Identify one similarity between facilitated diffusion and osmosis.

Answer: Both are passive transport processes. Both use concentration gradients without energy input.

Flashcard 11: Does facilitated diffusion increase or decrease with higher molecule concentration?

Answer: Increases until saturation. More substrate increases rate until protein saturation.

Flashcard 12: What is the difference between simple and facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Facilitated uses proteins; simple does not. Key distinction is protein requirement for selectivity.

Flashcard 13: Do carrier proteins require ATP to function?

Answer: No, not in facilitated diffusion. Facilitated diffusion is energy-independent.

Flashcard 14: Identify a factor that affects the rate of facilitated diffusion.

Answer: Concentration gradient or number of transport proteins. Both determine transport speed and efficiency.

Flashcard 15: What is the role of facilitated diffusion in cellular respiration?

Answer: Transport of glucose into cells. Provides substrate for energy production pathways.

Flashcard 16: What limits the rate of facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Number of available transport proteins. Protein availability determines maximum transport capacity.

Flashcard 17: Identify a situation where facilitated diffusion is crucial in human physiology.

Answer: Glucose uptake in muscle cells. Critical for energy metabolism in active tissues.

Flashcard 18: What types of molecules use facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Polar or charged molecules. These cannot pass through lipid bilayers without protein assistance.

Flashcard 19: What is facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Passive transport via proteins without energy. Uses specific proteins to help molecules cross membranes down gradients.

Flashcard 20: What is the role of membrane proteins in facilitated diffusion?

Answer: They facilitate the movement of molecules across the cell membrane. Essential components for selective membrane permeability.

Flashcard 21: What type of transport is facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Passive transport. No cellular energy required for this process.

Flashcard 22: What is the key difference between active transport and facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Active transport requires energy; facilitated does not. Energy distinguishes active transport from passive processes.

Flashcard 23: What is the key difference between active transport and facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Active transport requires energy; facilitated does not. Energy distinguishes active transport from passive processes.

Flashcard 24: Identify a scenario where facilitated diffusion is vital.

Answer: Nerve impulse transmission. Requires rapid ion movement for electrical signals.

Flashcard 25: What is the role of the lipid bilayer in facilitated diffusion?

Answer: It acts as a barrier to polar or charged molecules. Prevents direct passage of hydrophilic molecules.

Flashcard 26: Identify the role of transport proteins in facilitated diffusion.

Answer: They assist in moving substances across membranes. Proteins provide selective pathways for specific molecules.

Flashcard 27: Can facilitated diffusion become saturated?

Answer: Yes, when all proteins are occupied. Limited number of proteins creates maximum transport rate.

Flashcard 28: What is a channel protein?

Answer: A protein that forms a pore for ions to pass through. Creates a selective tunnel through the membrane.

Flashcard 29: What is the role of membrane proteins in facilitated diffusion?

Answer: They facilitate the movement of molecules across the cell membrane. Essential components for selective membrane permeability.

Flashcard 30: Identify the effect of temperature on facilitated diffusion.

Answer: Higher temperatures generally increase rate. Heat increases molecular motion and protein activity.

Flashcard 31: Which molecules are transported by ion channels?

Answer: Ions such as Na$^+$, K$^+$, Ca$^{2+}$. Charged particles that require channel proteins.

Flashcard 32: Which transport proteins are involved in facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Channel proteins and carrier proteins. Two main types that facilitate molecular transport.

Flashcard 33: Do channel proteins require binding to the transported molecule?

Answer: No, they do not require binding. Simply form pores without molecular binding.

Flashcard 34: What is the key structural feature of channel proteins?

Answer: They form pores in the membrane. Creates selective pathways through membrane structure.

Flashcard 35: What is the role of glucose transporters?

Answer: They facilitate glucose transport across the membrane. Essential for cellular energy metabolism.

Flashcard 36: Does facilitated diffusion involve a change in protein shape?

Answer: Yes, in carrier proteins. Conformational changes enable molecular transport.

Flashcard 37: What is the role of ion channels in facilitated diffusion?

Answer: They allow specific ions to pass through the membrane. Provide selective permeability for charged particles.

Flashcard 38: What type of cell transport is facilitated diffusion classified as?

Answer: Passive transport. Category of transport requiring no cellular energy.

Flashcard 39: Can facilitated diffusion occur without a protein?

Answer: No, it requires a transport protein. Proteins are essential for this transport mechanism.

Flashcard 40: Does facilitated diffusion increase or decrease with higher molecule concentration?

Answer: Increases until saturation. More substrate increases rate until protein saturation.

Flashcard 41: What is the concentration gradient?

Answer: Difference in concentration across a space. Drives passive transport from high to low concentration.

Flashcard 42: What is a carrier protein?

Answer: A protein that changes shape to move molecules. Undergoes conformational changes during transport.

Flashcard 43: What is a carrier protein?

Answer: A protein that changes shape to move molecules. Undergoes conformational changes during transport.

Flashcard 44: Does facilitated diffusion require energy?

Answer: No, it is a passive process. Uses existing concentration gradients as driving force.

Flashcard 45: Describe the role of aquaporins in facilitated diffusion.

Answer: They facilitate water transport. Specialized channel proteins for rapid water movement.

Flashcard 46: Identify one example of a molecule that uses facilitated diffusion.

Answer: Glucose. Large polar molecule requiring carrier protein assistance.

Flashcard 47: What is the role of ion channels in facilitated diffusion?

Answer: They allow specific ions to pass through the membrane. Provide selective permeability for charged particles.

Flashcard 48: What is the role of glucose transporters?

Answer: They facilitate glucose transport across the membrane. Essential for cellular energy metabolism.

Flashcard 49: Does facilitated diffusion move molecules against the concentration gradient?

Answer: No, it moves with the concentration gradient. Follows natural diffusion from high to low concentration.

Flashcard 50: What is facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Passive transport via proteins without energy. Uses specific proteins to help molecules cross membranes down gradients.

Flashcard 51: Do channel proteins require binding to the transported molecule?

Answer: No, they do not require binding. Simply form pores without molecular binding.

Flashcard 52: What type of cell transport is facilitated diffusion classified as?

Answer: Passive transport. Category of transport requiring no cellular energy.

Flashcard 53: Identify a factor that affects the rate of facilitated diffusion.

Answer: Concentration gradient or number of transport proteins. Both determine transport speed and efficiency.

Flashcard 54: What types of molecules use facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Polar or charged molecules. These cannot pass through lipid bilayers without protein assistance.

Flashcard 55: Does facilitated diffusion require energy?

Answer: No, it is a passive process. Uses existing concentration gradients as driving force.

Flashcard 56: Identify a scenario where facilitated diffusion is vital.

Answer: Nerve impulse transmission. Requires rapid ion movement for electrical signals.

Flashcard 57: Are there any energy requirements for facilitated diffusion?

Answer: No, it is energy-independent. Passive process relying only on concentration gradients.

Flashcard 58: Identify a common feature of molecules that use facilitated diffusion.

Answer: They are typically hydrophilic. Water-loving molecules that cannot cross lipid bilayers.

Flashcard 59: Identify a situation where facilitated diffusion is crucial in human physiology.

Answer: Glucose uptake in muscle cells. Critical for energy metabolism in active tissues.

Flashcard 60: Identify one condition that could inhibit facilitated diffusion.

Answer: Protein inhibitors or low temperatures. Factors that reduce protein function or molecular motion.

Flashcard 61: Do carrier proteins move multiple molecules simultaneously?

Answer: They typically move one molecule at a time. Each protein handles one molecule per transport cycle.

Flashcard 62: Is facilitated diffusion specific to certain molecules?

Answer: Yes, it is selective. Proteins have specific binding sites for target molecules.

Flashcard 63: What is the concentration gradient?

Answer: Difference in concentration across a space. Drives passive transport from high to low concentration.

Flashcard 64: What is the function of gated channels?

Answer: They open or close in response to stimuli. Control molecular flow through stimulus-response mechanisms.

Flashcard 65: Which transport proteins are involved in facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Channel proteins and carrier proteins. Two main types that facilitate molecular transport.

Flashcard 66: Are there any energy requirements for facilitated diffusion?

Answer: No, it is energy-independent. Passive process relying only on concentration gradients.

Flashcard 67: What limits the rate of facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Number of available transport proteins. Protein availability determines maximum transport capacity.

Flashcard 68: Do carrier proteins move multiple molecules simultaneously?

Answer: They typically move one molecule at a time. Each protein handles one molecule per transport cycle.

Flashcard 69: Which molecules are transported by ion channels?

Answer: Ions such as Na$^+$, K$^+$, Ca$^{2+}$. Charged particles that require channel proteins.

Flashcard 70: Can facilitated diffusion occur without a protein?

Answer: No, it requires a transport protein. Proteins are essential for this transport mechanism.

Flashcard 71: Identify one example of a molecule that uses facilitated diffusion.

Answer: Glucose. Large polar molecule requiring carrier protein assistance.

Flashcard 72: Identify the main factor that drives facilitated diffusion.

Answer: Concentration gradient. The driving force behind all passive transport.

Flashcard 73: Identify a common feature of molecules that use facilitated diffusion.

Answer: They are typically hydrophilic. Water-loving molecules that cannot cross lipid bilayers.

Flashcard 74: Identify one condition that could inhibit facilitated diffusion.

Answer: Protein inhibitors or low temperatures. Factors that reduce protein function or molecular motion.

Flashcard 75: Describe the role of aquaporins in facilitated diffusion.

Answer: They facilitate water transport. Specialized channel proteins for rapid water movement.

Flashcard 76: Identify the effect of temperature on facilitated diffusion.

Answer: Higher temperatures generally increase rate. Heat increases molecular motion and protein activity.

Flashcard 77: Can facilitated diffusion become saturated?

Answer: Yes, when all proteins are occupied. Limited number of proteins creates maximum transport rate.

Flashcard 78: What is the key structural feature of channel proteins?

Answer: They form pores in the membrane. Creates selective pathways through membrane structure.

Flashcard 79: Identify the main factor that drives facilitated diffusion.

Answer: Concentration gradient. The driving force behind all passive transport.

Flashcard 80: What type of transport is facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Passive transport. No cellular energy required for this process.