3 ms·
"In the ocean, these Na+-Cl- ATPase molecules 'pump' Na+ and Cl- out of the salmon's blood into the salt water flowing over the gills, thereby causing NaCl to b
by k__ 1y ago
"In the ocean, these Na+-Cl- ATPase molecules 'pump' Na+ and Cl- out of the salmon's blood into the salt water flowing over the gills, thereby causing NaCl to be lost to the water and offsetting the continuous influx of NaCl. In fresh water, these same Na+-Cl- ATPase molecules 'pump' Na+ and Cl- out of the water flowing over the gills and into the salmon's blood"
lol, so the salmon "breathes" salt in addition to oxygen?
- ndr42 1y agoThe difference is that the intake of oxygen is through diffusion (passive, along the concentration gradient) and the transport of Na+/Cl- uses ATP (active transport against the concentration gradient). (The gills have the largest surface area to exchange ions and molecules.) Edit: Spelling