Final answer:
Cells definitely use energy to transport molecules across their membranes through active transport, maintaining equilibrium and homeostasis.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, cells invest energy in transporting things across their membranes to maintain equilibrium and homeostasis. The process called active transport requires energy, typically in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), to move molecules and ions across the cell membrane against a concentration gradient. This active transport is critical to a cell's ability to maintain the proper balance of salts, nutrients, and proteins, which is essential for the cell's survival and function.
Active transport mechanisms, which include transport proteins such as pumps and channels, are vital to protect the cell's internal environment and ensure consistent growth and dynamic homeostasis. Whether it's the pumping of ions to maintain an electrochemical gradient or the transport of large molecules that cannot passively diffuse through the membrane, cells will utilize energy to perform these tasks.