Potassium ions are important in the resting membrane potential and the action potential of the nerve and to the contraction of muscle cells. The concentration gradient of potassium ions is critical to both

An excess of potassium outside a neuron or muscle cell would negate the concentration gradient. What would happen if the heart were injected with massive amounts of potassium? Explain your answer.


Potassium ions added to the exterior of a cell would disrupt the resting membrane potential because they would not "leak" in the correct direction. During the resting potential, there are more potassium ions inside of the cell; during the action potential, potassium leaks out of the cell. An action potential could be initiated as sodium rushes into the cell, but another one could not be generated.

Biology & Microbiology

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The human microbiome is best described as:

A. bacteria associated with the body. B. bacteria and fungi associated with the body. C. bacteria, fungi, and archaea associated with the body. D. viruses that have integrated their genomes into the human genome. E. bacteria, fungi, and archaea that have integrated their genomes into the human genome.

Biology & Microbiology

Mature plants may become __________ in dry or cold seasons in order to survive long periods that are unfavorable for growth.  

A.  dormant B.  dehydrated C.  photoperiodic D.  thigmonastic E.  gravitropic

Biology & Microbiology

A stage 3 society, based on the demographic transition model, would be characterized by all of the

following except ____.

a. an r value > 0 b. industrialization c. a clumped population distribution d. (K ? N)/K approaching 1 e. an r value approaching 1

Biology & Microbiology

The diploid number of a roundworm species is 4. Assuming there is no crossover, and random segregation of homologues during meiosis, how many different possible combinations of chromosomes might there be in the offspring (not including variety

generated by crossing over)? A) 4 B) 8 C) 16 D) 64

Biology & Microbiology