Differences between Ion Channels and Carrier protein Before make differences between ion channels and carrier protein, what are ion channel and carrier protein in science of biology? Ion channels: are protein molecules that span across the cell membrane allowing the passage of ions from one side of the membrane to the other. Carrier protein: are proteins that carry substances from one side of a biological membrane to the other. Figure 1 Differences between Ion Channels and Carrier protein Prepared by: Nawzheer Othman, San Saman, Yar Ameer and Ari Mariwan