Question

How do cells interact with the extracellular environment?

a) Cell division and apoptosis
b) Receptor binding and signal transduction
c) DNA replication and protein synthesis
d) Osmosis and diffusion

Answer 1

Cells interact with the extracellular environment by:

b) Receptor binding and signal transduction

Receptor binding:

Cells have specific receptors on their surfaces or within their membranes. These receptors are proteins that recognize and bind to signaling molecules, which can be hormones, growth factors, or other chemical messengers.

Signal transduction

Once the receptor binds to its ligand, a series of events is initiated inside the cell known as signal transduction. This process converts the extracellular signal into intracellular responses.