Question

You study a bacterium that grows in very low-nutrient aqueous environments. Which type of transport mechanism is required to deliver nutrients from these environments where they are at lower concentration than inside the cell?

A. aquaporins
B. active transport
C. facilitated diffusion
D. passive diffusion
E. such bacteria cannot exist

Answer 1

Answer:

B. active transport

Explanation:

When a substance is to be transported from the area of its lower concentration to the area of its higher concentration, energy is consumed. The process is called active transport as it uses energy to move molecules against the concentration gradient. Membrane transport proteins such as pumps are involved in this type of transport. Therefore, the given bacterium needs to use the process of active transport to absorb the nutrients from the surroundings.