Neuron Action Potentials and Synaptic Communication
Action Potential Generation
An action potential is an electrical signal in a neuron, a change in membrane potential from negative to positive. Only excitable cells can generate action potentials, allowing communication through electrical currents.
An oscilloscope measures action potentials, amplifying and recording the electrical activity of cells.
Ion channels, proteins in the cell membrane, generate electrical signals. Their permeability determines action potential generation.
Active transport (Na+
Read MoreHuman Circulatory System: Functions and Components
Circulatory Apparatus: Nutrient and Oxygen Transport
The circulatory apparatus is responsible for transporting nutrients and oxygen to all cells and collecting waste substances, leading them to the organs responsible for elimination.
Components of the Blood System
The blood system is composed of:
- Blood: The liquid responsible for transporting substances.
- Blood Vessels: The conduits where blood circulates.
- Heart: The organ that pumps blood continuously to reach all cells.
Blood Composition
Blood consists
Read MoreVertebrate Animals: Features and Evolution
Vertebrates: A Major Chordate Group
Vertebrates constitute the largest group within the chordates. All vertebrates have a backbone as a structural axis, a bony support that develops around the notochord, replacing it completely in many species. The spine is composed of bony elements, the vertebrae, which surround the nerve cord along its entire length.
Five Types of Vertebrates
- Fish
- Amphibians
- Reptiles
- Birds
- Mammals
General Features of Vertebrates
In all adult vertebrates, the notochord is replaced or surrounded
Evolution and Genetic Engineering: Key Concepts and Challenges
Gene Therapy
Gene therapy involves inserting genes into cells to treat diseases, including hereditary conditions. In vitro therapy extracts and processes patient cells in a lab, introducing the desired gene before returning them to the patient. In vivo therapy directly introduces a gene-carrying vector into the organism.
Transgenic Plants
Transgenic plants have genes transferred to them for:
- Herbicide resistance, insect and disease resistance, and increased yield
- Enhanced photosynthesis
- Improved product
Human Digestion and Respiration Processes
Digestive Process
Enzymes are unseen substances produced by the body that mix with food. In the digestive tract, a series of chemical reactions take place, called chemical digestion.
Mastication: Mechanical process of crushing food into smaller pieces.
Tongue: Involved in moving food to other teeth.
Salivation: When we put food in our mouth, salivary glands produce saliva, a liquid that mixes with food to form the food bolus. Saliva has three functions:
- Starts the chemical digestion of carbohydrates
Revolutionizing Genetics and Biotechnology
Revolution in Genetics and Biotechnology
Introduction:
Genetic discoveries in the 21st century have led to the development of techniques such as:
- In vitro fertilization
- Cloning
- Gene therapy (curing diseases by manipulating genes)
Genetics has evolved significantly thanks to the discovery of DNA.
DNA and RNA
These are nucleic acids, core components of the cell.
Chemical Composition:
- Functions of DNA: To maintain genetic information and pass it on to daughter cells during cell division.
- Why are we different