What are the differences between active transport and facilitated diffusion?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Active transport

Facilitated diffusion

Definition

The movement of ions or molecules across cell membranes into a region of higher concentration (against the gradient) and is assisted by enzymes

Is the transport of substances across a membrane from a region of higher concentration to lower concentration by carrier or channel proteins

Energy requirement

Requires energy to move molecules against their concentration gradient

Does not use energy

Process

Is active, and occurs against the concentration gradient

Is passive and occurs along the concentration gradient

End mechanism

Causes the accumulation molecules such as glucose and amino acids, active transport does not stop

Facilitated diffusion stops when equilibrium is released

Proteins

Sodium-potassium pump, ATPases, sodium/glucose symporter

Gated ion channels

Basis of differentiation	Active transport	Facilitated diffusion
Definition	The movement of ions or molecules across cell membranes into a region of higher concentration (against the gradient) and is assisted by enzymes	Is the transport of substances across a membrane from a region of higher concentration to lower concentration by carrier or channel proteins
Energy requirement	Requires energy to move molecules against their concentration gradient	Does not use energy
Process	Is active, and occurs against the concentration gradient	Is passive and occurs along the concentration gradient
End mechanism	Causes the accumulation molecules such as glucose and amino acids, active transport does not stop	Facilitated diffusion stops when equilibrium is released
Proteins	Sodium-potassium pump, ATPases, sodium/glucose symporter	Gated ion channels