Table of contents

1. Overview of Cell Biology2h 49m
2. Chemical Components of Cells1h 14m
3. Energy1h 33m
4. DNA, Chromosomes, and Genomes2h 31m
5. DNA to RNA to Protein2h 31m
6. Proteins1h 36m
7. Gene Expression1h 42m
8. Membrane Structure1h 4m
- The Lipid Bilayer
  38m
- Membrane Proteins
  25m
9. Transport Across Membranes1h 52m
10. Anerobic Respiration1h 5m
11. Aerobic Respiration1h 11m
12. Photosynthesis52m
13. Intracellular Protein Transport2h 18m
14. Cell Signaling1h 28m
15. Cytoskeleton and Cell Movement1h 39m
16. Cell Division3h 5m
17. Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction50m
18. Cell Junctions and Tissues48m
19. Stem Cells13m
- Stem Cells
  13m
20. Cancer44m
21. The Immune System1h 6m
22. Techniques in Cell Biology1h 41m

14. Cell Signaling

Overview of Signaling Molecules

Cell Biology

14. Cell Signaling

Overview of Signaling Molecules

Previous problemNext problem

Struggling with Cell Biology?

Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video

Multiple Choice

Why can a signaling molecule cause different responses in different types of cells?

Different cells may have different receptor proteins or different intracellular signaling pathways.

Signaling molecules only bind to one type of receptor in all cells.

All cells respond identically to the same signaling molecule.

Signaling molecules are only active in one specific tissue type.

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of cell signaling: Signaling molecules, also known as ligands, bind to specific receptor proteins on the surface or inside target cells to initiate a response. These responses depend on the receptor and the intracellular signaling pathways present in the cell.

Step 1: Recognize that different cell types can express different receptor proteins. A signaling molecule may bind to one type of receptor in one cell type and a completely different receptor in another cell type, leading to varied responses.

Step 2: Consider the role of intracellular signaling pathways. Even if two different cell types have the same receptor, the downstream signaling pathways activated by the receptor can differ. This is due to variations in the proteins and enzymes present in the cytoplasm of each cell type.

Step 3: Eliminate incorrect options. For example, the statement 'Signaling molecules only bind to one type of receptor in all cells' is incorrect because signaling molecules can bind to different receptors in different cells. Similarly, 'All cells respond identically to the same signaling molecule' is incorrect because of the diversity in receptors and signaling pathways.

Step 4: Conclude that the correct explanation is that different cells may have different receptor proteins or different intracellular signaling pathways, which allows the same signaling molecule to cause different responses in different cell types.