Abstract: The discovery and measurement of bioelectricity, as well as the mechanism elucidation of ion channels, reveal the basic laws and characteristics of life processes. The early researches of bioelectricity involved important historical events such as the Galvani's discovery of the animal electricity in 1791, the measurement of resting and action potentials in the 19th century, the proposal of membrane theory explaining resting potential in 1902, and the development of ion theory explaining the formation process of action potentials 50 years later. The existence of ion channels was confirmed using patch-clamp technology, and the molecular mechanisms of gating (voltage, ligand, temperature and mechanical stress) and ion selectivity (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^-) were perfectly interpreted with structural biology methods. Ion channels are a class of membrane pore proteins that allow selective passive transport of ions, participating in many important biological processes such as sensory formation, information processing, muscle contraction, and glandular secretion. Loss or dysfunction of ion channels can lead to various diseases in organs such as the brain, heart and muscles. The knowledge of bioelectricity and ion channels has been widely applied in clinical techniques such as electrocardiography, cochlear implants, and optogenetics, as well as in drug therapies such as anesthetics and anti-hypertensive drugs. This article comprehensively introduces the historical process from the discovery of bioelectricity to the elucidation of ion channels and related knowledge, in order to deepen our understanding and recognition of this field.

Key words: bioelectricity, action potential, ,  , ion channel, gating, ion selectivity