Final answer:
The statement is false; vertebrate taste receptor cells are specialized epithelial cells, not neurons, and they generate nerve impulses when chemicals bind to them.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Unlike taste receptor cells in vertebrates, invertebrate taste receptor cells are bipolar sensory neurons.' is false. In vertebrates, taste receptor cells are not neurons, but are specialized epithelial cells within taste buds. These cells have microvilli (also known as taste hairs) that interact with tastants in the oral cavity through openings in the taste bud called taste pores. When these taste hairs come into contact with chemicals, they generate nerve impulses. These impulses are then transmitted to the brain by afferent neurons, leading to the perception of taste. In contrast, invertebrates might have bipolar sensory neurons that act as their taste receptors.