Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
How can plants and animals affect neighboring cells directly in cell signaling?
A
Through direct contact via gap junctions or plasmodesmata
B
By altering the genetic code of neighboring cells
C
Through long-distance signaling using neurotransmitters
D
By releasing hormones into the bloodstream
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that cell signaling is a process by which cells communicate with each other to coordinate their functions.
Recognize that direct contact signaling involves physical connections between cells, allowing them to exchange materials or signals directly.
Identify that in animals, gap junctions are specialized structures that allow direct communication between neighboring cells by permitting the passage of ions and small molecules.
In plants, plasmodesmata are channels that traverse the cell walls, enabling direct communication and transport of substances between adjacent plant cells.
Conclude that the correct mechanism for direct cell signaling in plants and animals is through structures like gap junctions in animals and plasmodesmata in plants, rather than altering genetic codes, neurotransmitters, or hormones.