Naked Science Forum

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
23/05/2013 17:23:40

Author Topic: Why Does Salt Make These Frogs Legs Twitch !  (Read 1362 times)

neilep

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Too Much Free Time Level Member
  • **********
  • Posts: 20564
    • View Profile
  • on: 24/01/2012 00:58:13
*Eeky Alert*


See these frogs legs.....





Why does sprinkling them with salt make them twitch ?

*Eeky Alert* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YZJt_Bw3eo&feature=related  *Eeky Alert*



Don_1

  • Neilep Level Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 6092
  • A stupid comment for every occasion.
    • View Profile
    • Knight Light Haulage
  • Reply #1 on: 24/01/2012 08:49:47
Be fair sheepy, if I were to garnish your legs with a little mint sauce, it might well have a similar effect.

Being a bit of a numpty, I don't really know, but I think it could be some sort of electrostatic effect caused by water in the tissue being drawn out by the salt.

Nizzle

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 961
  • Extropian by choice!
    • View Profile
    • Carnivorous Plants
  • Reply #2 on: 24/01/2012 10:45:06
Salt, or NaCl, contains Sodium, which is required to generate an action potential in the nerves (motor nerves in this case). I'm guessing it has something to do with activating this action potential

Chemistry4me

  • Neilep Level Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 7710
    • View Profile
  • Reply #3 on: 24/01/2012 22:39:31
It supposedly works like this:

Quote
The nerve signal, or action potential, is a coordinated movement of sodium and potassium ions across the nerve cell membrane. Here’s how it works:

1. As we discussed, the inside of the cell is slightly negatively charged (resting membrane potential of -70 to -80 mV).
2. A disturbance (mechanical, electrical, or sometimes chemical) causes a few sodium channels in a small portion of the membrane to open.
3. Sodium ions enter the cell through the open sodium channels. The positive charge that they carry makes the inside of the cell slightly less negative (depolarizes the cell).
4. When the depolarization reaches a certain threshold value, many more sodium channels in that area open. More sodium flows in and triggers an action potential. The inflow of sodium ions reverses the membrane potential in that area (making it positive inside and negative outside — the electrical potential goes to about +40 mV inside)

http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2009/12/21/how-twitching-frog-legs-work-a-little-gross-yes-but-fascinating/

neilep

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Too Much Free Time Level Member
  • **********
  • Posts: 20564
    • View Profile
  • Reply #4 on: 28/01/2012 12:52:49
Thanks all for your replies !...very helpful indeed !....I wonder if this is a specific phenomena attributed to frogs legs cos I've never seen it happen on a chicken leg !....I suppose ' freshness' may have something to do with it !

Airthumbs

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 929
  • Personal Text
    • View Profile
  • Reply #5 on: 29/01/2012 08:14:20
Your frogs legs are obviously twitching in excitement about being on the menu.

neilep

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Too Much Free Time Level Member
  • **********
  • Posts: 20564
    • View Profile
  • Reply #6 on: 03/02/2012 16:05:51
Your frogs legs are obviously twitching in excitement about being on the menu.

*le yummy*

I've...erhm...never eaten frogs legs !.......I know everybody says that when they try new things that the thing they are tasting always seems to  taste like chicken..but I do believe that frogs legs do in fact taste like chicken....or is that Rabbit ?...oh...I dunno !!   :-\


...erhmm...has anyone actually eaten frogs legs ?...what are they like ?

Joe L. Ogan

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 456
    • View Profile
  • Reply #7 on: 03/02/2012 16:10:25
Yes, I have eaten them.  They are quite good.  Thanks for comments.  Joe L. Ogan

neilep

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Too Much Free Time Level Member
  • **********
  • Posts: 20564
    • View Profile
  • Reply #8 on: 03/02/2012 17:43:31
Yes, I have eaten them.  They are quite good.  Thanks for comments.  Joe L. Ogan

Thanks Joe....can you convey what they taste like ?...the texture ?....I suppose you had them with garlic and butter perhaps ?

Joe L. Ogan

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 456
    • View Profile
  • Reply #9 on: 03/02/2012 18:24:40
Frog legs have a rather unique taste.  It is somewhat like chicken or rabbot or somewhat like fish.  I find it a little difficult to describe it exactly because it is different.  Why don't yopu get some and try them.  You will like it.  Thanks for comments.  Joe L. Ogan

neilep

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Too Much Free Time Level Member
  • **********
  • Posts: 20564
    • View Profile
  • Reply #10 on: 03/02/2012 18:28:05
Frog legs have a rather unique taste.  It is somewhat like chicken or rabbot or somewhat like fish.  I find it a little difficult to describe it exactly because it is different.  Why don't yopu get some and try them.  You will like it.  Thanks for comments.  Joe L. Ogan

For me I will have to counteract the ' yuk' factor in my head first !...I need someone to surreptitiously introduce the meat into a meal and then tell me after that  I'd just eaten them !

 

Naked Scientists Science Radio Show Home Who are The Naked Scientists Information about Naked Scientists
Naked Scientists Podcast Ask the Naked Scientists Podcast Question of the Week Podcast
Naked Science Articles Experiments to do at Home Science Discussion Forum
Science News Stories Answers to Science Questions Interviews with Famous Scientists

Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.

Click here for the Naked Scientists PODCAST

The contents of this site are © The Naked Scientists® 2000-2013. The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science™ are registered trademarks.


Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP SMF 2.0 | SMF © 2011, Simple Machines Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!