You are working with some new neural cells and accidentally spill a few drops of a chemical solution into the petri dish. Shortly afterwards, you notice an increase in graded potentials in the cells. You hypothesize that the channels responsible for these graded potentials are
A) ligand-gated
B) leak channels
C) mechanically-gated
D) voltage-gated

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ligand-gated channels are activated by binding of specific molecules or neurotransmitters, which can cause a graded potential in the postsynaptic neuron. The accidental spillage of a chemical solution could have caused the activation of these channels and the resulting increase in graded potentials. The other options (leak, mechanically-gated, and voltage-gated) are not as likely to be affected by a chemical spillage in this way.

You Are Working with Some New Neural Cells and Accidentally