Explain why cells need to receive nutrients (explain what nutrients are and give

Question

Explain why cells need to receive nutrients (explain what nutrients are and give examples)
Explain why cells need to receive and send messages (briefly explain how cells of the body communicate and why it is important for cells to communicate).
Explain why cells need to get rid of wastes (For example: CO2 is a by-product of cell respiration. In cell respiration cells break apart glucose so they can build ATP, the fuel cells need to do cell work and CO2 is a by-product. Too much CO2 causes body fluids to become acidic. Acidic means that there is a high level of reactive protons (H+) and this can interfere with the normal chemical reactions that cells need to carry out).

Explanation / Answer

Cells need to receive nutrients so that they can carry out metabolic functions and survive/reproduce. For example, cellular respiration which involves mitochondria in animal cells and mitochondria, with addition to chloroplasts, in plant cells.

Cells need to receive and send messages to communicate the stability of the cell as well as "coordinate" with other cells. Cells have the ability to "commit suicide" when it is possible that the cell could endanger other cells within the body. An example of this would be a somatic cell committing lysis when it is about to undergo a cancerous change. Cells communicate to also show their "belonging" within the body. Foreign agents such as viruses or bacteria, may enter the body and cause disruption. Body cells, or somatic cells, need to be able to successful communicate to one another and become "identified" by the immune system's cells, so that those body cells may not become targets as well.

Cells need to get rid of waste to maintain dynamic equilibrium, which is the underlying theme throughout this question. Dynamic equilibrium is the state of normalcy in which the cell conducts its activities in "perfect harmony" and survives. Cells need to rid the waste because it is not needed. If the waste is kept, the cell could lysis, or die. A waste in one cell, may be a nessesity in another. One example is plant cells which need CO2 to conduct photosythnesis which releases O2. Whereas animal cells require O2for use in the mitochondria and release CO2. (This is another state of "dynamic equilibrium," but in another sense.)

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