Final answer:
A cell may have a membrane potential of 0 yet still possess energy in other forms, such as chemical gradients and ATP. Cellular energy primarily comes from metabolizing food and is used to maintain the resting membrane potential among other functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, it is possible to have a membrane potential of 0 and still have energy present in other forms. When we consider a cell membrane's potential, we are referring to an electrical potential difference across the cell membrane. The separation of charge creates a potential difference typically around -70 to -90 millivolts (mV). However, the presence of a membrane potential does not account for all types of cellular energy. Cellular energy can also be stored and used in chemical gradients, ATP molecules, and in the structural organization of cellular components. The primary source of this energy is through the metabolization of food, which is stored in high-energy bonds within molecules like ATP. The cell uses this chemical energy to perform various functions, including the maintenance of the membrane potential.
The resting membrane potential is crucial for the function of nerve and muscle cells, and it is established and maintained by ion channels and pumps, such as the Na+/K+ pump, which actively transports ions against their concentration gradients using energy derived from ATP hydrolysis. Although the membrane potential could be zero in a theoretical or pathological scenario, the other forms of cellular energy would still exist and could continue to support cellular functions, albeit not those functions directly dependent on an electrical potential difference across the membrane.