Name __________________________________
Introduction to the Nervous/Endocrine System WebQuest
Link 1: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/
Your page heading should be Amazing Cells
Click on “The Inside Story of Cell Communication” at the bottom right.
1. What do you see in the animation “signals travel into cells”?
2. What are three examples of the way proteins direct cellular responses?
a.
b.
c.
3. What is cross talk?
4. Return to the “Amazing Cells” Page. Now click the link on Dropping Signals. Of the five
options: muscle cells, photoreceptor, cancer, leaf parenchyma or fibroblast, choose three cell
types – run the animation of the effect of the four signal molecules – complete the table on the
next page highlighting their action in phrases.
Choose THREE below Effect of Light Effect of NO Cytokine/growth factor Hormone
Muscle cells
Photoreceptor
Cancer
Leaf parenchyma
fibroblast
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Return to Amazing Cells – Look for the heading “How Cells Communicate During Fight or
Flight” and enter that page. View the movie. I suggest you watch from beginning to end once
and then a second time to answer questions.
5. What happens in the pituitary gland as a result of the stimulus from the hypothalamus?
6. What two types of signals travel from the hypothalamus to the adrenal gland?
7. How do G protein linked receptors become involved?
8. What does the adrenal gland do?
9. What else does ACTH do?
10. What molecule is cortisol made from?
11. Where and what route does cortisol take when it leaves the adrenal gland?
12. What is the overall outcome of epinephrine’s activity inside the liver cell?
13. Where does the glucose go after it leaves the liver cell?
14. What does epinephrine do to the skin?
15. What does epinephrine do to the lungs?
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Return to the Amazing Cells page, click on the link “When cell communication goes wrong”
16. How does the page explain Diabetes Type I as losing the signal?
17. How is Multiple Sclerosis described in terms of not receiving a signal?
18. What is different about how Type II Diabetes ignores the signal?
19. What example is given when too much of a signal is received?
20. Why are diseases based on incorrect cell signaling so difficult for doctors to treat?
Return to the Amazing Cells Page. Look at the bottom left link – Real Cell Videos – open this
link and choose two videos other than the one listed below – then write a very brief summary
of what you saw.
Crawling neutrophils chasing a bacterium:
_________________________________:
_________________________________:
Choose one of the “Cell Images” microscopy links at the bottom of the Cell Video page – tell
me which one you chose and why you liked it. Were surprised at what you saw?
________________________________:
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Click on the link below - There are ten slides, as you review them, answer the following
questions: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/rewardbehavior/
21. What is the central job of the reward pathway?
22. What happens when you are hungry and look at a sandwich?
23. What chemical is being released that signals pleasure?
24. What other connection is made?
Now click on the link below “Crossing the Divide, How Neurons Talk to One Another”
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/crossingdivide/
25. At what location do nerve cells talk with one another?
26. In the sending cell, where do you find the neurotransmitters?
27. What kind of receptors do the receiving cells have?
28. Why does the reward pathway use a second messenger?
29. What is the reuptake transporter used for?
Click on the link below to get to “The Other Brain Cells”
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/braincells/
30. What are the three types of glial cells and what is their basic function?
a.
b.
c.
31. What type of research is currently in progress concerning astrocytes and disease?
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Make a Mad, Mad Neuron – click play
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/reward/madneuron.html
32. Play the game – draw and label a sketch of the neuron you construct.
Click the link below:
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/mouse/
33. You will be observing mice and how certain drugs actually affect the neurotransmitters – briefly
summarize each one below after you have gone through the screens –
Cocaine:
Heroin:
Marijuana:
Ecstasy:
Methamphetamine:
Alcohol:
LSD:
Final Link - http://www.alz.org/braintour/3_main_parts.asp
This link is to the Alzheimer’s Association – it provides a nice introductory tour of the brain – answer
the following questions briefly – move through the slides by clicking the next button.
34. Identify where in the brain the part is located and what is the basic function:
Cerebrum
Cerebellum
Brain stem
35. How much blood goes to the brain with each heart beat?
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36. Slide the cursor over the brain and observe the areas highlighted and their function –
describe two areas and the specific function of the cerebrum.
a.
b.
37. Which side of the brain controls the movements on the left side of the body?
38. What do you think is more important, the number of neurons or the connections between the
neurons and why?
39. Contrast the terms synapse and neurotransmitters.
40. Move your cursor over the terms in the PET scan images. What do you see? Why would PET
scans be useful?
41. What happens to the cortex, hippocampus and ventricles when a person suffers from Alzheimer’s
disease?
42. What do scientists think about the plaque that results in brain in individuals with Alzheimer’s
disease?
43. What is beta-amyloid and why is it a problem?
44. How do symptoms change between individual’s diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s to moderate, to
severe Alzheimer’s disease
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