Talk:Steady state (biochemistry)
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Cell membranes are very permeable to K+. This permeability is the main reason for the cell's electrical gradient
[edit] Disputed
The cell membrane is actually 22x more permeable to K+ than Na+, when at resting potential. Furthermore, membrane potential is mostly a system in equilibrium, as the electrical potential gradient + osmolar concentration gradient = 0. It is only the slight leakage of ions through passive transport mechanisms, and the necessity to counter this with Na+-K+ ATPase pumps that very technically makes the maintenance of membrane potential a system in steady state, rather than true equilibrium. Regardless, membrane potential isn't the sole example of a steady state system in biology/biochemistry, though perhaps the first one that a student will encounter where the distinction is significant. I don't have time to rewrite the article now, but it's currently totally inaccurate. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 64.195.215.166 (talk) 05:09, 8 February 2007 (UTC).
