Cell signaling

This course is a part of Biology, a 31-course Topic series from Khan Academy.

Did you know that your cells are continually "talking" to one another? Cells communicate by sending and receiving chemical signals. This molecular conversation allows the cells in your body to coordinate their activities, forming a functional, harmonious whole (a.k.a., you!). Learn more about the remarkable process of cell signaling.

This course contains 2 segments:

How cells signal to each other

If you were a cell, how would you say hello to your neighbor? Well, okay, you probably wouldn't be saying hello. (Maybe something more like "Divide now!" or "Become a skin cell!") Whatever you might be saying, however, chances are you'd be saying it in the form of chemical signals. Learn more about the types of signaling molecules cells use, the receptors that perceive them, and the types of changes they produce inside of the cell.

Communication in single-celled organisms

Learn how single-celled organisms use chemical signals to communicate.