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Question #46699
The Question
In human cardiac muscle, intercalated discs ensure syncytial contraction via low-resistance ion pathways. A researcher discovers that functionally analogous connexin-based communicating junctions exist between the adjacent ommatidia in the compound eye of a cockroach. If a specific neurotoxin is applied that selectively blocks these junctions, which of the following visual anomalies will most likely occur in the insect?
Options
- A.
The primary phototransduction cascade will halt, preventing the formation of any mosaic image.
- B.
Electrical coupling between adjacent retinal cells will fail, impairing lateral inhibition and reducing image contrast.
- C.
The pigment sheath will fail to optically isolate individual ommatidia, converting apposition images into superposition images.
- D.
Action potentials will fail to propagate from the rhabdom to the optic nerve due to the loss of chemical synapses.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Comparative_Analysis
Sharpen your ability to evaluate multiple scenarios and distinguish between competing potential answers.
Concepts Behind This Question
Gap Junctions|Ommatidial Neural Coupling|Electric Synapse
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: The student must connect the structural function of intercalated discs (gap junctions/electrical coupling) to sensory neurobiology.
The trap lies in compartmentalizing knowledge—students often memorize 'intercalated discs = heart' and 'ommatidia = cockroach eye' without recognizing the universal cellular function of gap junctions in syncytial signaling and lateral inhibition.
Option C is a strong 'Common Half-Truth' distractor, as pigment sheaths do isolate ommatidia, but via optical/physical means, not electrical coupling.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Structural Organisation in Animals - Class 11 |
| Concept | Mosaic Vision Processing |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |