All Flashcards
What are the differences between insulin and glucagon?
Insulin: Lowers blood sugar by promoting glucose uptake and storage. | Glucagon: Raises blood sugar by stimulating glycogen breakdown and glucose release.
What are the steps of signal transduction in high blood sugar?
- Stimulus: High blood glucose. 2. Sensor: Pancreas detects increase. 3. Signal: Pancreas releases insulin. 4. Response: Liver takes up glucose and stores it as glycogen. 5. Result: Blood glucose returns to normal.
What are the steps of signal transduction in low blood sugar?
- Stimulus: Low blood glucose. 2. Sensor: Pancreas detects decrease. 3. Signal: Pancreas releases glucagon. 4. Response: Liver breaks down glycogen and releases glucose. 5. Result: Blood glucose returns to normal.
Describe the general process of signal transduction.
- Signal (ligand) binds to a receptor. 2. Binding activates intracellular proteins. 3. Pathway leads to a cellular response.
What is signal transduction?
The process where a signal is received and converted into a cellular response.
Define gene expression.
The process where information encoded in DNA is used to create a functional product, usually a protein.
What is quorum sensing?
A process where bacteria release signaling molecules, and when the concentration reaches a threshold, it triggers a coordinated response.
What is apoptosis?
Programmed cell death, crucial for development and removing damaged cells.
Define cell differentiation.
The process by which cells become specialized.