Imagine That a Researcher Is Examining the Positioning of Synaptic

question 145

Multiple Choice

Imagine that a researcher is examining the positioning of synaptic clefts in a region of the nervous system of adult mice. In one of his mice, he notices that synaptic clefts are about 100 nm wide. What can be said of this mouse?

• A)This is a normal or wild-type mouse; synaptic clefts are generally 100 to 500 nm wide.
• B)This is likely a mutant mouse (as synaptic clefts are typically 10 to 20 nm wide); however, as neurotransmitters function better over long distances, this mouse will respond quicker to stimuli.
• C)This is likely a mutant mouse (as synaptic clefts are typically 10 to 20 nm wide). Given that neurotransmitters act over short distances, this mouse may demonstrate delayed and diminished responses to stimuli.
• D)This is likely a mutant mouse, as synaptic clefts directly connect the cytoplasm of presynaptic and postsynaptic cells (there is no space in between these cells). However, the width of this synaptic cleft will not affect the response of the mouse to stimuli.
• E)None of the answer options is correct.

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