This 3-D movie is a close look at some of the cell signaling and responses that take place throughout the body during the fight-or- flight response. The dynamic ways in which cells communicate with each other through molecular signals is depicted without focusing on anatomy, vocabulary or chemistry.
For a detailed play-by-play of what is happening in the movie and a higher-resolution version, visit:
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/cellcom/
For supplemental classroom materials for teachers about cells visit:
http://teach.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/
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Question from the comments:
I was wondering how cells know where they are in our bodies. Like how does a cell know if its supposed to be a cell for the surface of our skin, a brain cell, a muscle cell, etc? What makes a new cell thats growing the middle of a muscle know that it's supposed to be a muscle cell, rather than a dif type?
Answer:
Great question! It has everything to do with the signals cells receive from other cells and what stage of development you are talking about - embryo or human.
This piece on our website may help:
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/scintro/
In this activity you can send signals to adult stem cells to differentiate them into different types of cells:
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/sctypes/
This page helps explain what it means for a cell to receive a signal:
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/insidestory/