Return to Biology 1114 Scenario Index


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Chemical Defenses

Scenario: A Nigerian child is brought to the physician after eating a calabar bean, Physostigma venenosa. Symptoms include seizures, pupil contraction, intense bowel muscle cramping, and a racing pulse. The local physician knows that the child will probably die of seizures and heart failure unless he injects the child immediately with another potentially lethal compound. How can the poisonous antidote save the child's life? We investigate this problem while studying membrane structure, coordinated intracellular membrane activities involved in secretion, and intercellular communication.


Concepts Taught:
Icon Key:
activity
animation
diagram
quiz
text explanation

Concept Map:


Concepts Reviewed:


Examples of In-Class Discussion Questions: 


Major Terms Introduced:

Acetylcholine
Acetylcholinesterase
Action Potential
Axon
Dendrite
Exocytosis

Golgi Apparatus
Na+/K+ pump
Na+ channel
K+ channel
Neuron

Neurotransmitter
Receptor protein
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
Synapse

Related Laboratory Experiments:

Lab 4: How do various factors influence the passage of materials through a membrane?

Lab 5: How can cell structure be used to identify cell type, function, or location?


Text Readings:

Click here for Textbook Readings!

 
Corresponding Essential Study Partner Segments:

The Essential Study Partner is part of the McGraw-Hill Web Site.
To access it go here. Then follow these relevant paths below:

  • Animation of exocytosis: Cells > Cell Membrane > Exocytosis/Endocytosis
  • Animals > Nervous system > Action Potential
  • Animals > Nervous system > Synapse

    • Many of these are figures and accompanying text, but some are video clips that should help you see the process in action.

    Tutorials:


    Useful sites:

    The site for your textbook Life by Ricki Lewis

    Neuromuscular junction
    Neural Transmission :This animation from your textbook publisher provides a description of how a nerve functions including resting potential, action potential, and synaptic transmission
    Neuromuscular junction
    Membrane Transport :This animation from your textbook publisher provides a description of how materials cross membranes including diffusion, osmosis, facilitated transport, and active transport.
    Neuromuscular junction
    Chapter 45: Function of the Neuromuscular Junction : A flash animation from McGraw-Hill, similar to those in your e-books, that describes and illustrates synptic transmission between a muscle and a nerve. Highly recommended
    Medicines that Changed the World: Historical notes about the use of plant derived medicines and poisons in Central and South America; including cocaine, quinine, curare and pineapple.
    A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve: A brief description of the medicinal actions and uses of the calabar bean in Africa.
    A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve: Atropa Belladonna is the plant from which Atropine is derived. It has many uses and is most valuable for the treatment of eye diseases.
    from Dr. Steve Berg at Winoma State University: An animation of active transport with text explanation.
    from Dr. Steve Berg at Winoma State University: An animation of the movement of an action potential along a neuronwith text explanation.
    from Dr. Steve Berg at Winoma State University: An animation with text explanation.

    source
    from Dr. Steve Berg at Winoma State University: An animation with text explanation.

    source
    from Dr. Steve Berg at Winoma State University An animation with text explanation.


    source
    from "Neurosciences for Kids" by Dr. Eric Chudler (U. Washington): An extensive list of neurotoxins and how they act. Don't memorize these but you might test yourself on what effects they have.
    An actual NPR program: Listen as your hosts take a tour of a cell and describe the various parts.

    source     		The article Bit by Bit, the Structure of the Potassium Ion Channel Emerges by Nicole Johnston explains how the high-throughput transmisstion of ions is achieved, how channels discriminate between ions, and how they open and close in a fraction of a millisecond. (This article requires you to register with The Scientist news journal.)

    source    		 Toxic and Harmful Algal Bloom goes into more depth about "Red Tides" and the neurotoxins associated with them.


    Textbook Flashcards:

    The website for your textbook has flashcards organised by chapters. You are only responsible for topics discussed in class. For this scenario, flashcards with the Major Terms Introduced can be found in:

    Chapter 3: Cells
    Chapter 4: The Cell Membrane, Cytoskeleton, and Cell-Cell Interactions

    Bibliography:

    1. Lewis, R. 1998. Life. 3rd edition. WCB/McGraw-Hill:NY.
    2. Liska, K. 1997. Drugs and the Human Body: with Implications for Society. 5th edition. Prentice-Hall: NY.
    3. Mann, J. 1992. Murder, Magic, and Medicine. Oxford University Press: Oxford.
    4. Niesink, R., de Vries, J. and Hollinger, M. 1996. Toxicology: Principles and Applications . CRC Press: NY.