Question

Importance of diffusion in plants and animals essay

Answer 1

Sign up

Answers Biology GCSE

What is diffusion and why is it important in both animals and plants?

Facebook iconTwitter iconGoogle+ iconLinkedIn icon

42634 views

Diffusion is a passive process involving the movement of molecules from a region of a higher concentration to one of a lower concentration (the term passive means that the process does not require an input of energy to take place).

Diffusion can occur across partialy permeable membranes, such as those surrounding cells. Therefore, diffusion is involved in the movement of important molecules into and out of cells. It is important for the uptake of substances needed by cells, and also the removal of waste products produced by the cells.

In animals:

Respiration - Oxygen and glucose react to form carbon dioxide and water along with ATP (a source of energy) in the process of aerobic respiration. Therefore, oxygen and glucose must be taken up by the cell, and typically the concentration of these molecules outside the cell is greater than inside. Therefore, the overall net movement of these molecules will be down the concentration gradient, and they will move into the cell via diffusion. Similarly, the carbon dioxide produced is a waste product and moves out of the cell, again via diffusion down its concentration gradient.

In Plants:

Mineral uptake - Useful minerals and ions need to be taken up from soil into plants via root hair cells. These cells are adapted (through a large surface area and large number) to maximise the rate of diffusion. Therefore, the useful molecules in the soil move down a concentration gradient and into the roots to be taken up by the plant. Many molecules found in the soil are essential for the growth and survival of plants, making diffusion a very important process.

Answer 2

The importance of diffusion is as follows:

Explanation:

• The diffusion is the process through which the molecules, or ions move from high to low concentrations. This is necessary for the transfer of gases and the liquids in living beings.
• The diffusion is useful in respiration process in living organisms. The carbon dioxide is removed from the cells and the oxygen diffuse from the high environmental concentration to the low internal concentration.
• It is also important for the intake of water in the body to regulate the cellular metabolism in living beings. Water diffuses into the plant root hair cells that is from the high concentration of the soil to low concentration in the root hair cells.

Learn more about diffusion:

Importance of diffusion in plants and animals essay: https://brainly.in/question/8359476