Question

You do not have much information about the distribution of leak channels in the alien cells, except that you know that zinc and magnesium leak channels exist. In Cell B, resting membrane potential (RMP) is somewhere around -70mV. Given the information above, can you say that the resting potential in Cell B will be the same as Cell A?

(A) Yes, because concentrations of extracellular magnesium are not different and therefore RMP will be about the same
(B) No, because concentrations of extracellular zinc are different so RMP will be different
(C) Yes, because concentrations of ions in and outside of neurons do not affect a neuron when it is at rest, only when it's depolarized, so RMP will be -70mV in both
(D) No, because you have no information about leak channel distribution and number, you cannot make any predictions about RMP

Answer 1

No, because you have no information about leak channel distribution and number, you cannot make any predictions about RMP. Hence the correct answer is option D

Step-by-step explanation:

The resting membrane potential (RMP) is the voltage difference across the cell membrane when the neuron is at rest. This potential is maintained by differences in concentrations of ions inside and outside the cell. In Cell B, the RMP is around -70mV. While you know that zinc and magnesium leak channels exist, you do not have information about their distribution. Therefore, you cannot say for certain that the resting potential in Cell B will be the same as Cell A. The correct answer is (D) No, because you have no information about leak channel distribution and number, you cannot make any predictions about RMP.

Hence the correct answer is option D