Download Communication in living systems is normally not covered in the 10th

Communication in living systems is normally not covered in the 10th grade biology curriculum. Because of this, you
should take the time to examine this topic. Chapter 43: The Immune System is our 2nd step in understanding this idea.
In this outline you will find the AP Bio curriculum that is addressed in chapter 43.
Big Idea 2: Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce, and to maintain
dynamic homeostasis

Enduring Understanding 2.D Growth and dynamic homeostasis of biological systems are influenced by changes
in the system’s environment
o Essential Knowledge 2.D.4 Plants and animals have a variety of chemical defenses against infections that
affect dynamic homeostasis
 Plants, invertebrates and vertebrates have multiple, nonspecific immune responses
 Invertebrate – nonspecific lacking pathogen-specific responses
 Plant – recognition systems with systemic responses, infection triggers chemical
response that destroy infected and adjacent cells = localizing effects
 Vertebrate – nonspecific and nonheritable defense against pathogens
 Mammals use specific immune responses triggered by natural or artificial agents that disrupt
dynamic homeostasis
 Cell mediated vs humoral responses
 Cytotoxic T cells – target intracellular pathogens when triggered by antigens displayed
on outside of cells
 B cells - produce antibodies
 Antigen/Antibody interaction
 2nd exposure to antigen – immune response
Big Idea 3: Living systems, store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes


Enduring Understanding 3.B Expression of genetic information involves cellular and molecular mechanisms.
o Essential Knowledge 3.B.2 A variety of intercellular and intracellular signal transmissions mediate gene
expression (11.1 and 11.4) (45.1 and 45.2)
 Signal transmission within and between cells mediates gene expression (11.4)
 Cytokines (43.1 immune response)
Enduring Understanding 3.D Cells Communicate by generating, transmitting and receiving chemical signals
o Essential Knowledge 3.D.2 Cells communicate with each other through direct contact with other cells or
from a distance via chemical signaling (11.1, 11.2, 45.1, 45.2)
 Cells communicate by cell-to-cell contact
 Immune Cells (43.2)
o Essential Knowledge 3.D.3 Signal transduction pathways link signal reception with cellular response
(11.2, 11.3)
 Many signal transduction pathways include protein modification (i.e. methylation of DNA) and
phosphorylation cascades (via a series of protein kinases)
o Essential Knowledge 3.D.4 Changes in signal transduction pathways can alter cellular responses (11.1,
11.2, 11.3, 11.4)
 Blocked or defective pathways = deleterious, preventative or prophylactic
 autoimmune disease (43.4)
 Drugs - antihistamines (43.4)