Ion channels are crucial components of living cells. Situated in the cell membrane, they allow ions to pass from one side of the membrane to the other. This book provides an overview of ion channel study, including up-to-date coverage of the permeability and selectivity of channels, their gating and modulation, their response to drugs and toxins, and the human diseases that result from channel malfunction. Students of molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, and neurobiology will benefit from this modern, concise text.