This chapter tackles the science behind animal communication, which involves
an individual's use of signals to influence the behavior of others. Signals
are generally believed to be accurate indicators of conditions such as
courtship displays. The evolution and accuracy of signals depends on the
benefits and costs of signal production and the fitness interests of those
involved. Alarm calls are unique vocalizations produced when predators are
close. The chapter also explains how the environment affects the evolution
of signals. Chemical, morphological, and mechanical signals differ in their
physical properties. Additionally, signals often accurately indicate
signaller phenotype and environmental conditions.
Chapter
Communication
Chapter
Molecules and Cells in Animal Physiology
This chapter discusses the importance of molecules and cells in animals. It cites that molecules and cells are the building blocks of tissues and other higher levels of organisation. The fundamental structural and functional properties of molecules and cells revolve around cell membranes, epithelia, enzyme function, and mechanisms by which cells receive and act on signals. The chapter elaborates on the role cellular enzymes play as agents of regulation of cell function. It looks into the evolution of enzymes wherein protein evolution can be either elucidated by studies of genes or studies of proteins. Meanwhile, cells send signals to each other that serve to coordinate cell functions throughout the body.
Book
Lincoln Taiz, Ian Max Møller, Angus Murphy, and Wendy A. Peer
Fundamentals of Plant Physiology is a distillation of the most important principles and empirical findings of plant physiology. First, the book covers plant and cell architecture. Then, it focuses on water and plant cells, water balance of plants, mineral nutrition, assimilation of inorganic nutrients, and solute transport. The text also looks at photosynthesis, translocation in the phloem, respiration and lipid metabolism, signals and signal transduction, signals from sunlight, and embryogenesis. Towards the end of the book, there are chapters that cover seed democracy, germination, seedling establishment, vegetative growth and senescence, flowering, fruit, biotic interactions, and abiotic stress.
Chapter
Signals and Signal Transduction
This chapter begins by providing a brief overview of the types of external cues that direct plant growth. In general, an environmental input that initiates one or more plant responses is referred to as a signal, and the physical component that biochemically responds to that signal is designated a receptor. Receptors are either proteins or, in the case of light receptors, pigments associated with proteins. Once receptors sense their specific signal, they must transduce the signal in order to amplify the signal and trigger the cellular response. The chapter then discusses how plants employ signal transduction pathways to regulate physiological responses. It examines how individual stimulus-response cascades are often integrated with other signaling pathways, termed cross-regulation, to shape plant responses to their environment in time and space. The chapter also considers phytohormone metabolism and homeostasis, as well as hormonal signaling pathways.
Chapter
Communication
This chapter tackles the science behind animal communication, which involves an individual's use of signals to influence the behavior of others. Signals are generally believed to be accurate indicators of conditions such as courtship displays. The evolution and accuracy of signals depends on the benefits and costs of signal production and the fitness interests of those involved. Alarm calls are unique vocalizations produced when predators are close. The chapter also explains how the environment affects the evolution of signals. Chemical, morphological, and mechanical signals differ in their physical properties. Additionally, signals often accurately indicate signaller phenotype and environmental conditions.
Chapter
Cell signalling: importance, complexity and the future
This chapter recalls the mechanisms used by cells to control their activities. It introduces many recurring themes in cell signalling, showing that there is a steady state condition of signalling components. The chapter argues that the most important aspects of cell signalling are that there needs to be a change and that this change needs to be recognized to elicit a response. The chapter also looks at the uniqueness of the signals used and the specific perception of the signals. The chapter considers moonlighting proteins, drug discovery, and cell signalling manipulation. Finally, it examines the future of cell signalling research.
Chapter
Detection of extracellular signals: the role of receptors
This chapter examines the mechanisms used by cells to perceive signals, and the immediate action taken when they do. It explains that most signals are perceived at the cell surface by a variety of protein receptors, but some signals are able to penetrate the cell and therefore must be recognized on the inside, either within the cytoplasm or in the nucleus. The chapter then explores the types of receptor, their mechanisms and actions, and how they lead to the signalling cascades inside the cell to better understand cell signalling mechanisms. The chapter also reviews the binding characteristics of receptors, as an understanding of the ability of a cell to bind to a signalling ligand will reveal the capability of a cell to respond, or not. Lastly, the chapter explicates the mechanisms of how a cell may modulate its complement of receptors. It also studies receptor sensitivity and receptor density.
Chapter
Signals and Signal Transduction
This chapter begins by providing a brief overview of the types of external cues that direct plant growth. In general, an environmental input that initiates one or more plant responses is referred to as a signal, and the physical component that biochemically responds to that signal is designated a receptor. Receptors are either proteins or, in the case of light receptors, pigments associated with proteins. Once receptors sense their specific signal, they must transduce the signal in order to amplify the signal and trigger the cellular response. The chapter then discusses how plants employ signal transduction pathways to regulate physiological responses. It examines how individual stimulus-response cascades are often integrated with other signaling pathways, termed cross-regulation, to shape plant responses to their environment in time and space. The chapter also considers phytohormone metabolism and homeostasis, as well as hormonal signaling pathways.
Chapter
Signals from Sunlight
This chapter discusses how sunlight also serves as a signal that regulates various developmental processes, from seed germination to fruit development and senescence. In addition, sunlight provides directional cues for plant growth as well as non-directional cues for plant movements. The receptor molecules that plants use to detect sunlight are termed photoreceptors, which undergo a conformational change when irradiated by a particular wavelength of light (perceived by the eye as colour) to initiate signaling reactions that typically involve second messengers and phosphorylation cascades collectively referred to as photoresponses. The chapter then looks at the signaling mechanisms involved in light-regulated growth and development, focusing primarily on the receptors for red light, far-red light, blue light, and UV-B radiation. It considers phytochromes, cryptochromes, and phototropins.
Book
Lincoln Taiz, Eduardo Zeiger, Ian Max Møller, and Angus Murphy
Fundamentals of Plant Physiology is a distillation of the most important principles and empirical findings of plant physiology. First, the book covers plant and cell architecture. Then, it focuses on water and plant cells, water balance of plants, mineral nutrition, assimilation of inorganic nutrients, and solute transport. The text also looks at photosynthesis, translocation in the phloem, respiration and lipid metabolism, signals and signal transduction, signals from sunlight, and embryogenesis. Towards the end of the book, there are chapters that cover seed democracy, germination, seedling establishment, vegetative growth and senescence, flowering, fruit, biotic interactions, and abiotic stress.
