AP Biology Flashcards: Mechanisms Of Transport

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Mechanisms Of Transport, 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: What is the role of carrier proteins?

Answer: To transport substances across the cell membrane. They undergo conformational changes to move substances.

Flashcard 2: What is antiport?

Answer: Transport of two substances in opposite directions across a membrane. One substance enters while another exits the cell.

Flashcard 3: How does temperature generally affect diffusion rate?

Answer: Higher temperature increases diffusion rate. Increased kinetic energy accelerates molecular movement.

Flashcard 4: What is cotransport?

Answer: The coupled transport of two substances across a membrane. One substance's gradient drives another's transport.

Flashcard 5: What does the term 'selectively permeable' mean?

Answer: Allowing certain substances to pass through while blocking others. Membrane proteins determine this selective passage.

Flashcard 6: What is a hypotonic solution?

Answer: A solution with a lower solute concentration than another. Lower solute concentration causes water to enter.

Flashcard 7: Define exocytosis.

Answer: The process of expelling materials from the cell via vesicles. Vesicles fuse with membrane to release contents.

Flashcard 8: Name a protein involved in active transport.

Answer: Sodium-potassium pump. Maintains cellular ion gradients essential for nerve function.

Flashcard 9: How does temperature generally affect diffusion rate?

Answer: Higher temperature increases diffusion rate. Increased kinetic energy accelerates molecular movement.

Flashcard 10: What is the function of glycoproteins in the cell membrane?

Answer: Cell recognition and communication. Sugar chains on proteins enable cellular identification.

Flashcard 11: What is passive transport?

Answer: Movement of substances across the membrane without energy input. Driven by concentration gradients and kinetic energy.

Flashcard 12: Which process requires ATP: diffusion or active transport?

Answer: Active transport. Diffusion uses no energy, active transport requires ATP.

Flashcard 13: What is osmosis?

Answer: The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane. Water moves to equalize solute concentrations.

Flashcard 14: What is cotransport?

Answer: The coupled transport of two substances across a membrane. One substance's gradient drives another's transport.

Flashcard 15: What is the key difference between active and passive transport?

Answer: Active transport requires energy, passive does not. Energy requirement distinguishes these transport types.

Flashcard 16: What type of transport uses energy: endocytosis or facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Endocytosis. Endocytosis requires ATP for membrane deformation and vesicle formation.

Flashcard 17: What is the meaning of 'hypertonic' in terms of solution concentration?

Answer: A solution with a higher solute concentration than another. Higher solute concentration creates osmotic pressure.

Flashcard 18: What is the function of glycoproteins in the cell membrane?

Answer: Cell recognition and communication. Sugar chains on proteins enable cellular identification.

Flashcard 19: What is the primary function of the cell membrane?

Answer: To regulate the movement of substances in and out of the cell. This selective permeability controls cellular homeostasis.

Flashcard 20: Which molecule provides energy for active transport?

Answer: ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Hydrolysis of ATP releases energy for cellular work.

Flashcard 21: What is an isotonic solution?

Answer: A solution with equal solute concentration to another. Equal concentrations prevent net water movement.

Flashcard 22: Explain the term 'concentration gradient'.

Answer: The difference in concentration of a substance across a space. This drives the direction of passive transport.

Flashcard 23: Which transport mechanism involves vesicles?

Answer: Endocytosis and exocytosis. These processes transport large materials through membranes.

Flashcard 24: Identify the main component of the cell membrane.

Answer: Phospholipids. These amphipathic molecules form the bilayer structure.

Flashcard 25: What is facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Passive transport using proteins to move substances across the membrane. Enables transport of polar molecules that can't cross lipid bilayer.

Flashcard 26: What is membrane potential?

Answer: The voltage difference across a cell's plasma membrane. Results from unequal ion distribution across membrane.

Flashcard 27: What is the role of cholesterol in the cell membrane?

Answer: To maintain fluidity and stability of the membrane. Modulates membrane fluidity at different temperatures.

Flashcard 28: Explain the term 'concentration gradient'.

Answer: The difference in concentration of a substance across a space. This drives the direction of passive transport.

Flashcard 29: What is the primary function of the sodium-potassium pump?

Answer: To maintain the electrochemical gradient in cells. Essential for nerve impulses and cellular signaling.

Flashcard 30: Identify the main component of the cell membrane.

Answer: Phospholipids. These amphipathic molecules form the bilayer structure.

Flashcard 31: Which molecule provides energy for active transport?

Answer: ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Hydrolysis of ATP releases energy for cellular work.

Flashcard 32: Which type of molecule generally requires facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Polar or charged molecules. These cannot cross the lipid bilayer directly.

Flashcard 33: What role do aquaporins play in cells?

Answer: They facilitate water transport across cell membranes. These protein channels specifically transport water molecules.

Flashcard 34: What does the term 'selectively permeable' mean?

Answer: Allowing certain substances to pass through while blocking others. Membrane proteins determine this selective passage.

Flashcard 35: Identify a type of protein used in facilitated diffusion.

Answer: Channel proteins. These form specific pathways for ion movement.

Flashcard 36: Define exocytosis.

Answer: The process of expelling materials from the cell via vesicles. Vesicles fuse with membrane to release contents.

Flashcard 37: Identify the gradient used in chemiosmosis.

Answer: Proton gradient. This electrochemical gradient drives ATP synthesis.

Flashcard 38: Identify the water channel proteins in the cell membrane.

Answer: Aquaporins. These specialized channels transport only water molecules.

Flashcard 39: What is the process of removing waste from a cell called?

Answer: Exocytosis. Vesicles transport waste to the cell surface.

Flashcard 40: What is passive transport?

Answer: Movement of substances across the membrane without energy input. Driven by concentration gradients and kinetic energy.

Flashcard 41: What is pinocytosis?

Answer: A type of endocytosis involving the ingestion of liquid into the cell. Literally means 'cell drinking' for fluid uptake.

Flashcard 42: Describe endocytosis.

Answer: The process of taking in materials by engulfing them in the cell membrane. The cell membrane invaginates to form vesicles.

Flashcard 43: Identify the water channel proteins in the cell membrane.

Answer: Aquaporins. These specialized channels transport only water molecules.

Flashcard 44: What is the key difference between active and passive transport?

Answer: Active transport requires energy, passive does not. Energy requirement distinguishes these transport types.

Flashcard 45: What role do aquaporins play in cells?

Answer: They facilitate water transport across cell membranes. These protein channels specifically transport water molecules.

Flashcard 46: What is the role of carrier proteins?

Answer: To transport substances across the cell membrane. They undergo conformational changes to move substances.

Flashcard 47: What is a hypotonic solution?

Answer: A solution with a lower solute concentration than another. Lower solute concentration causes water to enter.

Flashcard 48: Define diffusion.

Answer: The movement of particles from high to low concentration. This process continues until equilibrium is reached.

Flashcard 49: Which type of molecule generally requires facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Polar or charged molecules. These cannot cross the lipid bilayer directly.

Flashcard 50: What is symport?

Answer: Transport of two substances in the same direction across a membrane. Both substances move together in same direction.

Flashcard 51: What is active transport?

Answer: Movement of substances against their concentration gradient using energy. ATP hydrolysis powers this uphill transport process.

Flashcard 52: What is the primary function of the sodium-potassium pump?

Answer: To maintain the electrochemical gradient in cells. Essential for nerve impulses and cellular signaling.

Flashcard 53: What is antiport?

Answer: Transport of two substances in opposite directions across a membrane. One substance enters while another exits the cell.

Flashcard 54: What is the primary function of the cell membrane?

Answer: To regulate the movement of substances in and out of the cell. This selective permeability controls cellular homeostasis.

Flashcard 55: Name a protein involved in active transport.

Answer: Sodium-potassium pump. Maintains cellular ion gradients essential for nerve function.

Flashcard 56: What is the function of the proton pump in cells?

Answer: To transport protons across membranes, creating a gradient. Essential for chemiosmosis in cellular respiration.

Flashcard 57: Identify the gradient used in chemiosmosis.

Answer: Proton gradient. This electrochemical gradient drives ATP synthesis.

Flashcard 58: What is membrane potential?

Answer: The voltage difference across a cell's plasma membrane. Results from unequal ion distribution across membrane.

Flashcard 59: What is phagocytosis?

Answer: A type of endocytosis involving the ingestion of large particles. Literally means 'cell eating' for particle uptake.

Flashcard 60: What is an isotonic solution?

Answer: A solution with equal solute concentration to another. Equal concentrations prevent net water movement.

Flashcard 61: What is symport?

Answer: Transport of two substances in the same direction across a membrane. Both substances move together in same direction.

Flashcard 62: Which process requires ATP: diffusion or active transport?

Answer: Active transport. Diffusion uses no energy, active transport requires ATP.

Flashcard 63: Identify a type of protein used in facilitated diffusion.

Answer: Channel proteins. These form specific pathways for ion movement.

Flashcard 64: Identify the term for the movement of ions across a membrane.

Answer: Ion transport. Charged particles require specific protein channels.

Flashcard 65: Define diffusion.

Answer: The movement of particles from high to low concentration. This process continues until equilibrium is reached.

Flashcard 66: What role do glycoproteins play in cell membranes?

Answer: They assist in cell-cell recognition. Carbohydrate markers enable immune system recognition.

Flashcard 67: What is active transport?

Answer: Movement of substances against their concentration gradient using energy. ATP hydrolysis powers this uphill transport process.

Flashcard 68: What is the process of removing waste from a cell called?

Answer: Exocytosis. Vesicles transport waste to the cell surface.

Flashcard 69: Which transport mechanism involves vesicles?

Answer: Endocytosis and exocytosis. These processes transport large materials through membranes.

Flashcard 70: Identify the term for the movement of ions across a membrane.

Answer: Ion transport. Charged particles require specific protein channels.

Flashcard 71: What is the meaning of 'hypertonic' in terms of solution concentration?

Answer: A solution with a higher solute concentration than another. Higher solute concentration creates osmotic pressure.

Flashcard 72: What is the function of the proton pump in cells?

Answer: To transport protons across membranes, creating a gradient. Essential for chemiosmosis in cellular respiration.

Flashcard 73: What type of transport uses energy: endocytosis or facilitated diffusion?

Answer: Endocytosis. Endocytosis requires ATP for membrane deformation and vesicle formation.

Flashcard 74: What role do glycoproteins play in cell membranes?

Answer: They assist in cell-cell recognition. Carbohydrate markers enable immune system recognition.

Flashcard 75: Describe endocytosis.

Answer: The process of taking in materials by engulfing them in the cell membrane. The cell membrane invaginates to form vesicles.