Let me share with you a difference between absorption and assimilation.
| Aspect | Absorption | Assimilation |
| Introduction | The process of taking up of substances, such as nutrients, by cells or tissues | The process of incorporating absorbed nutrients into the body’s own structures and molecules |
| Occurrence | Primarily occurs at the surface of cells or tissues | Takes place within cells or tissues |
| Efficiency | A relatively rapid process, occurring as nutrients move across membranes | A more gradual and continuous process that involves ongoing cellular activities |
| End products | The end products of absorption are the same as the absorbed substances | The end products of assimilation are newly formed molecules, such as proteins, lipids, and glycogen |
| Purpose | Facilitates the uptake of nutrients from the environment into the organism | Utilizes absorbed nutrients to meet the energy needs and build and maintain the organism’s own structures |
| Examples
| · Absorption of water and minerals by plant roots · Absorption of nutrients in the small intestine of animals | · Incorporation of amino acids into proteins · Conversion of glucose into ATP through cellular respiration |