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Comprehension

1. What role do aquaporins play in cell membranes?
2. How did Peter Agre first come across the protein that turned out to be aquaporin?
3. Why was the discovery of aquaporins significant for biology and medicine?
4. What experimental evidence confirmed that aquaporins selectively transport water?
5. In which human tissues are aquaporins especially important?

Analysis

1. Why did scientists initially overlook aquaporins despite their importance?
2. How did the discovery of aquaporins change our understanding of osmosis in cells?
3. Why is the selectivity of aquaporins (letting water in but not ions) crucial for cell survival?
4. How does the structure of aquaporins explain their function?
5. What does AgreÕs discovery reveal about the importance of curiosity-driven research?

Application

1. How might aquaporin research be applied in treating medical conditions such as kidney disease or brain swelling?
2. What potential does aquaporin research hold for agriculture in water-limited environments?
3. How could aquaporins inspire advances in biomimetic water filtration technologies?
4. In what ways might drugs targeting aquaporins be useful for human health?
5. How does the study of aquaporins illustrate the connection between basic research and practical applications?