Based on Current Knowledge of the Tip Links, the Next

Based on current knowledge of the tip links, the next experimental step(s) should be to

A) characterize the energetics (e.g., energy of activation) of deformation of the stereocilia.
B) determine the minimum amount of force needed to bend the stereocilia to threshold so that action potentials fire.
C) determine the specificity (e.g., potassium? calcium?) of the transduction ion channel.
D) determine the kinetics of ion transport through the transduction channel.
E) purify, characterize, and then clone the proteins of which the tip links are composed.