Communication

Essential Understandings about Cell Communication:

• Cells communicate with other cells using chemical molecules. Some forms of cells can also use electricity. The chemicals molecules that cells use to communicate are mostly proteins. The electricity that is used in some organisms is small &  measured in millivolts. One millivolt is 1/1000 of a volt. A double A battery is 1.5 volts.

• One form of chemical signaling is when a cell targets itself with chemicals that it produces. This is called autocrine signaling.

• When a cell communicates with another cell that is nearby and connected with gap junctions, this is called signaling across gap junctions.

• When one cell sends a chemical signal to a target cell nearby, but not attached, this is called paracrine signaling.

• When a cell targets a distant cell using the bloodstream to transport the signal, this is called endocrine signaling.

• Cells can communicate with other cells using electricity, through the nervous system.