Question

In a method called patch-clamping, a glass capillary can be converted into a microelectrode that measures the electrical currents across biological membranes. Which of the following statements about the patch-clamp method is FALSE?

1) The patch-clamp method is used to measure electrical currents across biological membranes.
2) The patch-clamp method involves converting a glass capillary into a microelectrode.
3) The patch-clamp method is a technique used in neuroscience research.
4) The patch-clamp method cannot be used to measure electrical currents in living cells.

Answer 1

The patch-clamp method is a technique used in neuroscience research to measure electrical currents across biological membranes by converting a glass capillary into a microelectrode. It can be used to study ion movements during action potentials in neurons and muscle cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patch-clamp method is a technique used in neuroscience research to measure electrical currents across biological membranes. It involves converting a glass capillary into a microelectrode, which can detect and record the flow of ions through ion channels in the membranes. The technique is commonly used to study ion movements during action potentials in neurons and muscle cells.

The statement that is FALSE is: The patch-clamp method cannot be used to measure electrical currents in living cells. In fact, the patch-clamp method is specifically designed to measure electrical currents in living cells, allowing researchers to study the behavior of ion channels and the generation of electrical signals in real-time.