Buffers, pH, Acids, and Bases
The pH of a solution is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity. You have probably used litmus paper, paper that has been treated with a natural water-soluble dye so it…
Water
Do you ever wonder why scientists spend time looking for water on other planets? It is because water is essential to life; even minute traces of it on another planet…
Chemical Bonds
How elements interact with one another depends on how their electrons are arranged and how many openings for electrons exist at the outermost region where electrons are present in an…
Carbon Dating
Carbon-14 (14C) is a naturally occurring radioisotope that is created in the atmosphere by cosmic rays. This is a continuous process, so more 14C is always being created. As a living…
Voltage-gated sodium channels
Introduction Voltage-gated sodium channels are responsible for action potential initiation and propagation in excitable cells, including nerve, muscle, and neuroendocrine cell types . They are also expressed at low levels…
Receptor Agonists and Antagonists
Receptors are transmembrane proteins that enable the transfer of chemical signals from the cellular outer microenvironment into the cells, as well as within the cell. Receptors are usually embedded into…
Ligand-gated ion channels
Ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) are integral membrane proteins that contain a pore which allows the regulated flow of selected ions across the plasma membrane. Ion flux is passive and driven…
ATP-powered Pumps
ATP-powered pumps (ATPases) couple the splitting, or hydrolysis, of ATP with the movement of ions across a membrane against a concentration gradient. ATP is hydrolyzed directly to ADP and inorganic…
Difference between Cell Wall and Cell Membrane
One of the fundamental difference between the plasma membrane and the cell wall is in the type of organisms that they are found. The cell wall is present only in…
Cell Membranes
According to cell theory, cells are the main unit of organization in biology. Whether you are a single cell or a blue whale with trillions of cells, you are still made…
