What is the name of the process that converts a signal into a cellular response?

What is the name of the process that converts a signal into a cellular response?

• A. Cellular respiration
• B. Signal transduction pathway
• C. Gene expression
• D. Homeostasis regulation

Answer: (B)

The process that converts a signal into a cellular response is known as a signal transduction pathway. This pathway encompasses a series of molecular events and interactions that occur within a cell when it receives a specific signal, such as a hormone or neurotransmitter. Initially, a signaling molecule binds to a receptor on the cell's surface, triggering a cascade of reactions within the cell. These reactions often involve several proteins, second messengers, and cellular changes that ultimately lead to a functional response, such as altered gene expression, changes in cellular metabolism, or modifications to cellular movement. Other options like cellular respiration refer to the metabolic processes by which cells obtain energy, gene expression involves the transcription of specific genes into mRNA, and homeostasis regulation pertains to maintaining stable internal conditions, which are all distinct from the process of translating external signals into actionable cellular responses.

The process that converts a signal into a cellular response is known as a signal transduction pathway. This pathway encompasses a series of molecular events and interactions that occur within a cell when it receives a specific signal, such as a hormone or neurotransmitter.

Initially, a signaling molecule binds to a receptor on the cell's surface, triggering a cascade of reactions within the cell. These reactions often involve several proteins, second messengers, and cellular changes that ultimately lead to a functional response, such as altered gene expression, changes in cellular metabolism, or modifications to cellular movement.

Other options like cellular respiration refer to the metabolic processes by which cells obtain energy, gene expression involves the transcription of specific genes into mRNA, and homeostasis regulation pertains to maintaining stable internal conditions, which are all distinct from the process of translating external signals into actionable cellular responses.