AP Biology Pre-Discussion Questions:
Cellular Communication
AP Biology Pre-Discussion Questions:
Cellular Communication
Instructions:
 Open the lecture video.
 Interact with it.
 Answer the “Questions to Answer.”
 Make sure you understand each item in the “Make sure you
can…” section.
 Feel free to view the supplemental videos on the class
website.
 Write down any questions you have about the material.
Instructions:
 Open the lecture video.
 Interact with it.
 Answer the “Questions to Answer.”
 Make sure you understand each item in the “Make sure you
can…” section.
 Feel free to view the supplemental videos on the class
website.
 Write down any questions you have about the material.
Textbook Reading:
 Principles of Life Chapter 5: section 5.5
Textbook Reading:
 Principles of Life Chapter 5: section 5.5
Questions to answer:
1. Why do cells need to communicate?
2. Explain what happens during the three phases of signal
transduction.
3. What is the purpose of a second messenger?
4. Diagram the epinephrine signaling pathway. Diagram signal
reception, transduction and response.
5. Define each of the following phenomena, identify the
organisms that they occur in, and explain how cellular
signaling is used in each of them:
a. quorum sensing
b. mating in yeast
c. apoptosis
6. Why do you think cellular signaling pathways and
mechanisms are so universal among life’s domains?
Questions to answer:
1. Why do cells need to communicate?
2. Explain what happens during the three phases of signal
transduction.
3. What is the purpose of a second messenger?
4. Diagram the epinephrine signaling pathway. Diagram signal
reception, transduction and response.
5. Define each of the following phenomena, identify the
organisms that they occur in, and explain how cellular
signaling is used in each of them:
a. quorum sensing
b. mating in yeast
c. apoptosis
7. Why do you think cellular signaling pathways and
mechanisms are so universal among life’s domains?
Things you should make sure you understand: (feel free to ask
questions about them in class!)
 How cells use signaling pathways in their physiology.
 The similarities and differences in G-protein, tyrosine
kinase, and ligand-gated ion channel signaling pathways.
 How a signaling pathway can lead to amplification of the
response to the signal.
 How a signaling pathway can have multiple physiological
effects on a cell or organism.
Things you should make sure you understand: (feel free to ask
questions about them in class!)
 How cells use signaling pathways in their physiology.
 The similarities and differences in G-protein, tyrosine
kinase, and ligand-gated ion channel signaling pathways.
 How a signaling pathway can lead to amplification of the
response to the signal.
 How a signaling pathway can have multiple physiological
effects on a cell or organism.