Chapter 14: Response to Stimuli Flashcards
spec point 3.6.1
what is a stimulus?
- detectable change in the internal or external environment of an organism that produces a response
what is a taxis?
simple response that’s direction is determined by the direction of the
stimulus
how do organisms respond directly to stimulus?
moving its body either:
- ) Toward the stimulus (positive taxis)
- ) Away from the stimulus (negative taxis)
give an example of positive phototaxis and negative phototaxis
positive phototaxis: single-celled algae move towards light, this increases their chances of survival since they’re photosynthetic
negative phototaxis: earthworms move away from light, this increases chances of survival bc it takes them into soil, where they’re able to conserve water, find food and avoid some predators
what’s a kinesis?
- simple reponse where organism (doesn’t move towards/away from the stimulus, instead) changes speed at which it moves and rate at which it changes direction
• The more intense the stimulus the more rapid the movements
• Kinesis is important when the stimulus is less directional such as heat or
humidity
give an example of how kinesis occurs in an organism
- woodlice lose water from their bodies in dry conditions
- when they move from damp area to dry one, they move more rapidly and change direction more often
- increases chance of moving to favorable conditions i.e. damp area, prevents them drying out and increases chances of survival
what’s tropism?
- growth of part of a plant in response to a directional stimulus
explain positive and negative phototropism and gravitropism in relation to the shoots and roots of a plant
- shoots grow towards light (positive phototropism) and away from gravity (negative gravitropism) so that their leaves are in most favourable position to capture light for photosynthesis
- plant roots grow away from light (negative phototropism) and towards gravity (positive gravitropism). In both cases response increases probability that roots will grow into soil, where they’re better able to absorb water and mineral ions
give three examples of changes plants respond to
light (i.e. positively phototropic)
gravity (i.e. positively gravitropic)
water (i.e. positively hydrotropic)
what is IAA?
- Indoleacetic acid (IAA) is an auxin - a plant growth factor which is produced in small quantities
- controls plant cell elongation: causes elongation of shoot cells but inhibits elongation in root cells
Explain why shoots show positive phototropism
- cells in tip of shoots produce IAA, which is transported down shoot, IAA intially transported evenly throughout all regions as it starts to moves down shoot
- unilateral light causes movement of IAA from light side to shaded side of shoot, so greater conc builds up on shaded side than light side
- IAA causes elongation of shoot cells and bc of greater conc on shaded side of shoot, these cells elongate more
- so shaded side of shoot elongates faster than light side, causing shoot tip to bend towards the light
how does gravity affect IAA in plants?
- changes distribution of IAA carrier proteins that export IAA from cells
Explain why roots show positive gravitropism
Gravity causes IAA to accumulate on lower side of the root.
2. IAA inhibits elongation of root cells.
3. Cells on the upper side of the root
elongate faster, so the root tip bends
downwards
explain why shoots show negative gravitropism
- greater conc of IAA on lower side increases cell elongation
- causes this side to elongate more than upper side
- so shoot grows upwards from force of gravity
explain why roots show negative phototropism
- IAA controls bending of roots in response to light, it inhibits cell elongation in roots
- in roots elongation of cells greater on light side than on shaded side (greater conc of IAA on shaded side)
- so root bends away from light i.e. they’re negatively phototropic
explain why covering/removing tip of shoot prevents response (phototropic or gravitropic)
- tip must detect stimulus or produce messenger (IAA)
- its removal prevents any response
what are plant growth factors?
- hormone-like substances which control plant responses to external stimuli
- they exert their influence by affecting growth and they may be made by cells located throughout the plant rather than in particular organs
- they can affect the tissues that release them
eg indoleacetic acid (IAA)
Why do organisms need to Respond to Stimuli?
- for increasing chance of survival (predator/prey awareness, homeostasis, )
How do simple organisms Respond to Stimuli?
- Taxis
- Kinesis
Evidences for Tropism (positive phototropism in shoot)?
- removing or covering shoot tip prevents tropism [tip causes tropism]
- placing micin (prevents movement of chemicals e.g. IAA) across shoot inhibits tropism [tropism caused by movement of chemicals]
- placing gelatine (prevents movement of electrical signals) across shoot does not affect tropism [tropism not caused by movement of electrical signals]
- if shoot tip is moved to one side, that side grows faster and the shoot bends the other way [IAA promotes growth in shoot]
- when in light or darkness the overall levels of IAA remain the same [light does not inhibit or breakdown IAA but rather redistributes it]
define the following:
a. Phototropism
b. Geotropism
c. Hydrotropism
d. Chemotropism
Phototropism: directional growth in response to a light source.
Geotropism: directional growth in response to gravitational pull.
Hydrotropism: directional growth in response to a water source.
Chemotropism: directional growth as a result of chemicals in the environment.
how is IAA transported?
- in one direction
- away from tip of shoots and roots (where it’s produced)
explain the affect of IAA on plant cells walls
- increases plasticity of young cell walls (ones able to elonagte)
- response only in young cell walls, bc cells mature and develop greater rigidity (therefore older parts of shoot/root won’t be able to respond)
explain the acid growth hyopthesis
- light causes IAA to be transported towards shaded side
- IAA causes active transport of H+ ions into cells wall, decreases pH of cell wall
- decreased pH is optimum pH for expansins to loosen walls
- wall less rigid, allows walls to elongate as they take up water
IAA moves towards shaded side of shoots when the light is what?
UNIDIRECTIONAL
light coming from single direction
what is the acid growth hypothesis?
NOT explain
proposed explanation of how IAA increases plasticity of cells
contrast mammalian hormones and plant growth factors
CASTS
Concentration:
mammalian hormone response not always dependent on conc, PGF response proportional to conc
Action:
mammalian hormone binds to complementary proteins in/on target cell, PGF can affect all cells
Synthesis:
mammalian hormone synthesised by specialised glands, PGF synthesised by various tissues in growing regions
Transport:
mammalian hormone transported through circulatory system, PGF transported by diffusion or phloem translocation
Speed:
mammalian hormone is faster-acting (homeostasis), PGF is slower acting (plant growth)
advantage of taxis and kinesis
maintain mobile organism in optimum environment
many organisms respond to temperature and,humidity via kinesis rather than taxis. Why?
Less directional stimuli; often no clear
gradient from one extreme to the other.
how could a student recognise kinesis in an organism’s movement?
- Organism crosses sharp division between favourable & unfavourable environment: turning increases
(return to the original favourable environment). - If organism moves considerable distance into unfavourable environment: turning slowly decreases; begins to move in long, straight lines; sharper turns (lead organism to new environment).
Outline what happens in a simple reflex
arc
STIMULUS → RECEPTOR → SENSORY NEURON → RELAY NEURON/CO-ORDINATOR (intermediate neuron) → MOTOR NEURON → EFFECTOR → RESPONSE
Suggest two advantages of simple reflexes
- Rapid;
- Protect against damage to body tissues;
- Do not have to be learnt;
- Help escape from predators;
- Enable homeostatic control;
what is a reflex
involuntary response to a stimulus
A response is controlled by a…
coordinator e.g. brain
A response (e.g. hormone secretion) is produced by an…
effector
The two modes of communication between cells in large multicellular organisms are…
- Hormonal communication
2. Nervous communication
The two major divisions of the nervous system are…
central nervous system (CNS)
peripheral nervous system
the central nervous system consists of…
the brain
the spinal cord
the peripheral nervous system consists of…
sensory neurons
motor neurons