Cell Communication, Nervous and Endocrine System QUEST
Bozeman Videos & Other On-line Resources:
Cell Communication
 How Bacteria “Talk”
http://www.ted.com/talks/bonnie_bassler_on_how_bacteria_communicate.html
 Cell Communication
http://www.bozemanscience.com/037-cell-communication
 Signal Transduction in Pathways
http://www.bozemanscience.com/038-signal-transduction-pathways
 Cell Signals
http://www.dnalc.org/resources/3d/cellsignals.html
 Intracellular Signaling Animation
http://biology-animations.blogspot.com/2010/09/intracellular-signaling-animation.html
 An Example of Cell Communication
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/cellcom/
 Evolutionary Significance of Cell Communication
http://www.bozemanscience.com/036-evolutinary-significance-of-cell-communication
Cell Communication/Signaling Objectives Ch 11
1. Describe and provide examples of short distance and long distance intercellular communication.
a. Epinephrine simulation of glycogen breakdown in muscle cells
i. fight or flight response
b. Plasmodesmata in Plants
c. Neurotransmittres
d. Quorum sensing in bacteria
e. Endocrine System and hormones (testosterone, estrogen, insulin)
2. Describe and model the key elements of intracellular communication (signal transduction pathways)
in which a signal is converted to a cellular response.
a. Signaling begins with the recognition of a chemical messenger, a ligand, by a specific
receptor protein
i. Different receptors recognize different chemical messengers
ii. Receptor binds ligand causing protein conformation change, initiates transduction of
the signal
1. G-Protein Receptors
b. Signal cascades relay signals from receptors to cell targets, often amplifying the incoming
signals, with the result of appropriate responses by the cell
i. Second messengers are often essential to the function of the cascade
1. cAMP, Calcium ions (neurotransmitters)
3. Explain how changes in signal transduction pathways can alter cellular responses.
a. Neurotoxins, poisons, pesticides
b. Diabetes, cancer (uncontrolled cell division)
4. Compare and contrast eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells in terms of cell communication.
Describe how these similarities and differences provide evidence for the evolutionary relationship
between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
a. Quorum sensing vs Signal Transduction Pathway, Endocrine and Nervous System
Communication
Communication Prior Links from ECOLOGY
5. Communication is used by animals to indicate dominance, find food, establish territory, and ensure
reproductive success
a. **Bee Dance, Bird Songs, Territorial marking in animals, Pack behavior in animals, predator
warning, coloration, pheromones
6. Responses to information and communication of information are vital to natural selection and
evolution
a. **Learned behaviors, migration patterns, courtship behaviors,
Endocrine System Ch 45
1. How do hormones bind to target receptors and trigger specific pathways?
2. Know examples of at least two hormones (secretion, target, action and regulation)
a. Oxytocin – child birth – positive feedback
b. Insulin – regulation of blood sugar
3. Examples of Negative and Positive Feedback loops (from POGIL Activity)
a. Regulation of temperature – thermoregulation
b. Child birth
Ch. 48 – Nervous System
1. Action potential
o What is happening at each part (graph)?
o What maintains the resting potential?
o What role to Na+ and K+ channels play?
o What is the significance of the threshold potential?
2. Structure and function of parts of neuron(s) (axon, dendrites, synapse, myelin sheath, cell body)
a. structure of neuron allows for the detection, generation, transmission and integration of signal
information.
3. Be able to explain the sodium-potassium pump.
4. Function of neurotransmitters
a. Acetylcholine
b. Epinephrine / Norepinephrine
5. When and how are neurotransmitters released?
6. What do excitatory neurotransmitters do? What do inhibitory neurotransmitters do?
o Neurotoxins?
Brain Anatomy
1. Different regions of the vertebrate brain have different functions
a. hypothalamus controls body temperature
b.
What are the functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?
• Structure and function of brain (cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, medulla oblongata, pituitary,
hypothalamus)