A Research Strain of Mice Has a Mutation That Causes

Multiple Choice

A research strain of mice has a mutation that causes voltage-gated sodium channels to take longer to return to the active state after a spike.What is the likely consequence for transduction of sensory stimuli?

A) There will be no effect on sensory perception, because sensory information relies on stimulus-gated ion channels and not voltage-gated ion channels.
B) Sensory information will be incorrectly perceived as high intensity stimuli, due to the increased frequency of action potentials.
C) The mutation will interfere with the ability of stimuli to create receptor potentials, and thus the neuron will fire with slow, broad action potentials, giving the animal enhanced sensory perception.
D) Due to a longer refractory period, the neuron will be unable to conduct high frequency action potentials, and thus will not effectively transmit information about strong stimuli.