A Retrospective Reflection, Essay Example

There are a number of important interactions that take place inside of a cell.  Even the simplest unicellular organisms undergo a number of complicated interactions to regulate substances needed for the organism.  A few concepts will be examined to look at the regulation and production processes that lead to the complexities of the cell.

Cell Signaling

In examining the regulation as present in human cells, the membrane of the cell functions as a receptor, and not just a sac.  The receptor allows substances to enter and leave the cell as needed.  For instance, blood sugar levels are able to be regulated when insulin meets receptors on the cell membrane, allowing glucose to enter the cell.

Receptors are the building-blocks of cells in terms of regulation, as we can see from the previous examples.  In this there are a significant number of signals involved in these communications, where interactions may take place by direct contact or over short or long distances.  As we return to the receptors, these elements represent again how regulation occurs, as more specifically, they are how cells receive information from their environment.

Receptors are classified as a type of protein, where genes are also involved in the processes inside the cell.  Genes signal proteins that interact with receptors, which form the basis of cell signaling.  Genes also play a major role within the interactions that occur within a cell.

Gene Expression and Production

Gene products result from the expression of a gene into some type of biochemical material (RNA or protein).  Gene expression is the process by which gene products are realized within the cell.  Gene expression is another major component of the regulations and processes of the cell.

Gene expression involves a number of steps within organisms.  Prokaryotes utilize transcription and translation, where eukaryotes ad d the additional step of RNA processing.  It is also necessary for viruses, where they all are able to express protein when it is needed.  For instance, the lac operon E.coli expresses the need for protein involved in lactose metabolism when lactose is present and glucose is not present.  Gene regulation takes place in any step of gene expression, allowing the cell to have control over function and structure, as seen in morphogenesis and cellular differentiation.

Cellular Respiration

Cellular respiration is another vital method for the cell to receive what it needs.  It is specifically regarding that of energy, where the cell can convert energy into ATP.  The catabolic reactions represent one way for many animal and plant calls to obtain energy needed inside the cell.

The reaction involves the oxidation of one molecule.  Another molecule is reduced by transferring an electron to another substance, completing the catabolic reaction in cellular respiration.  The reaction can either be aerobic or anaerobic, where it is classified as the former if it uses oxygen as a final electron acceptor in the process.

Conclusion

While not limited to these three important processes, these help to successfully control the cell in terms of regulation and production.  Complex cell signaling systems let parts of the cell know what needs to be produced, and allow substances to enter and leave the cell.  Gene expression results in important gene products as well, which also plays a role in cellular control and cellular differentiation.  Finally, cellular respiration is another important process, in which we find the production of energy, rounding out these essential interactions within the cell.