Active and Passive Transport: Red Rover Send Particles Over
Students compare and contrast passive and active transport by playing a game to model this phenomenon. Movement through cell membranes is also modeled, as well as the structure and movement typical of the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane. Concentration gradient, sizes, shapes and polarity of molecules determine the method of movement through cell membranes. This activity is associated with the Test your Mettle phase of the legacy cycle.
Students model active and passive transport in a cell.Copyright 2008 JrPol, Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Passief-actief-transport-in-cel.svg
Engineers use models to represent and better understand the world at various scales. To better understand cells, engineers construct and manipulate models. In this activity, students construct a cell membrane and provide areas for specific transport. A molecule's ability to permeate through a cell membrane is one of the main focuses of intracellular engineering. A great deal of research is being done in the field of biomedical engineering to learn about the inner-workings of cells in order to develop new forms of medical technology.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Act as a different particle or part of the cell membrane to model active and passive transport.
- Explain how particles are transported from one side of the cell membrane to the other.
- Explain why engineers use models.