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The sodium/potassium pump is an example of a ._______while the glucose/sodium pump is a exam ple of __________

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Final answer:

The sodium/potassium pump is an example of active transport, using ATP to move ions against their concentration gradient. The glucose/sodium pump is a form of secondary active transport or co-transport, coupling glucose uptake with sodium's movement down its gradient.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sodium/potassium pump is an example of an active transport mechanism, where ions are moved against their concentration gradient using energy from ATP. Specifically, the pump uses ATP to move three sodium (Na+) ions out of the cell and two potassium (K+) ions into the cell, maintaining essential electrochemical gradients across the cell membrane critical for processes such as nerve impulse transmission. On the other hand, the glucose/sodium pump, often referred to as the sodium-glucose co-transporter, is an example of secondary active transport or co-transport, where the movement of glucose into the cell is coupled with the movement of sodium down its concentration gradient.

The energy for the sodium-glucose co-transport is indirectly derived from the primary active transport carried out by the sodium/potassium pump, as the sodium ions flow back into the cell down their concentration gradient facilitated by the glucose/sodium co-transporter, simultaneously transporting glucose molecules into the cell.

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