Question

Melanie, a graduate student working in a neuroscience lab, grows neurons in a petri dish to study the effects of environmental toxins on neuronal communication. During one of Melanie’s experiments, she accidentally damages the axon of a neuron. What will be an immediate consequence of this mishap?

Answer 1

Answer:

The neuron will not be able to transmit information to other cells.

Explanation:

The neuron can be known as the basic unit of the Nervous System, it is in charge of activating and inhibiting the its electrical activity.

It has 3 parts in charge of different functions regarding communication and integration:

• Dendrites: the neuron's small extensions, in charge of integrating the received information. They are the neuron's input.
• Axon: the neuron's main extension, the output which is bigger in size and is in charge of carrying out the action potential to other neurons.
• Axon terminals: the neuron center in which the metabolic activity takes place.

In this case, Melanie has damaged the axon of the neuron so it will not be able to transmit the information to other cells since it's the neuron's output.