Difference Between Osmosis and Active Transport (With Table)

The passive and active forms of transportation of molecules across a membrane play an important biological role for all living species. Osmosis and active transport are the two types of processes in which charged particles move across a membrane. These processes are crucial for maintaining the water balance and homeostasis in the body.

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What is Secondary Active Transport?

Cotransport or coupled transport are termed secondary active transport. Energy is consumed as a source of force to move molecules across the membrane. ATP coupling is not present in Secondary active transport. The Galvanic potential difference gradient is responsible for the pumping of ions. The energy produced by pumping ions gets used as the source of energy. 

Main Differences Between Osmosis and Active Transport

  1. The factors responsible for osmosis are osmotic pressure and osmotic gradient. The factors responsible for active transport are ATP and electrochemical gradient. 
  2. Osmosis is of two types, reverse and forward osmosis. Primary and Secondary active transport is under active transport.
  3. Osmosis does not require metabolic energy. Active transport requires metabolic energy.
  4. Osmosis maintains equilibrium. No equilibrium gets maintained in active transport.
  5. Osmosis occurs through a semi-permeable membrane. Active transport does not need a semi-permeable membrane.

Conclusion

Both Osmosis and Active transport are processes that involve the movement of molecules. Osmosis is the motion of water molecules, whereas active transport is the motion of solutes. Osmosis is the movement of water molecules between hypertonic and hypotonic solutions. Active transport utilizes energy derived from respiration. Osmosis and Active transport are crucial for deriving and capturing chief nutrients.

References

  1. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-fluid-mechanics/article/on-the-movement-of-water-and-solute-in-extracellular-channels-with-filtration-osmosis-and-active-transport/C53CE19338968ED0446B8F272E854596
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0065280608600727

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