Cell signaling

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cell-signaling

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Not applicable to a biological process
2. What is the core function?Mediates cellular responses to internal and external stimuli through molecular cascades
3. How do cells send messages?Cells use special molecules like hormones or neurotransmitters that stick to receptors on other cells, starting a chain reaction inside.
4. Why is cell signaling important for growth and healing?It tells cells when to grow, divide, or become new types, helping tissues form and repair.

Ligand: A molecule that binds specifically to a receptor, initiating a signaling event.
Signal Transduction: The process by which a cell converts a signal from outside into a functional response inside.
Apoptosis: Programmed cell death, a crucial process for development and tissue homeostasis.