Coordination, Response and Gene Technology

Edexcel IAL Biology A Level
Topic 8: Coordination, Response and

Gene Technology
Notes
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Coordination and response
Coordination and control in animals is controlled by 2 systems - the nervous system and the
endocrine system which are both responsible for carrying out responses across the body, yet
have many differences:
● The nervous system
○ Communication is via electrical impulses
○ The effects are short lived - for instance causing one muscle contraction
○ The response is localised
○ Faster response
● The endocrine system
○ Communication is via hormones which are chemicals
○ The effects are mainly long lasting
○ Hormones affect a larger area of the body
○ Slower response
The nervous system is comprised of the central nervous system (CNS) which is made up of the
brain and spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system which extends beyond the brain and
spinal cord to the rest of the organism.
The nervous system is made up of receptor cells that detect changes in the internal and external
environment known as stimuli. The sensory, motor and relay neurones of the central nervous
system which coordinate a response to a stimulus and decide what to do and the effectors bring
about the response. Effectors can be muscles which contract or relax as a response or glands
that secrete chemicals such as hormones or enzymes.
The nervous system is connected by nerve cells called neurones which play an important role in
coordinating communication within the nervous system.
Neurones
The structure of neurones is similar, as they all have a cell body composed of the nucleus as well
as organelles, such as mitochondria, within the cytoplasm. Apart from the essential components,
they also contain extensions called dendrites involved in conducting impulses towards the cell
body, as well as axons which conduct impulses in the opposite direction, that is away from the cell
body.
There are three types of neurones, sensory, motor and relay with different functions which differ
by the position of the cell body within the neurone.
Motor neurones are involved in transmitting electrical signals from the central nervous system to
muscles and glands in the body. Sensory neurones transmit impulses from receptors to the
central nervous system, whereas the relay neurones which, are located within the central
nervous system, are involved in transmitting the electrical impulses from sensory neurones to
motor neurones.
The structure of neurones, that is the length of axons as well as the polarised nature of the
neurone membrane in the resting state where the outside of the membrane is positively charged
and the inside is negatively charged, enables the neurones to carry electrical impulses called
action potentials.
The speed at which the electrical potential is carried can be increased with the help of the myelin
sheath which serves as an insulator of axons and dendrons, produced by Schwann cells. The
mechanism by which the speed is increased is known as saltatory conduction where the action
potential jumps between gaps in the myelin sheath, called nodes of Ranvier. Movement of the
impulse is much faster by saltatory conduction since the entire length of the neurone is not
polarised by the opening and closing of sodium and potassium ion channels - only the clusters of
these ion channels found at the nodes of Ranvier need to be depolarised in order to pass the
action potential along.
Spinal reflex arc
The central nervous system is made up of 2

types of tissue - grey matter and white
matter. Grey matter contains dendrons, axons
and cell bodies and is where the synapses
between neurones lie and forms a butterfly
shape in the spinal cord. White matter
contains only axons so it is the tissue that
links between areas of grey matter.
The reflex arc is an automatic response

that’s role is to protect the body from harm. A
reflex arc occurs as follows:
1. A potentially harmful stimulus is detected by receptors - for instance a very hot pan on
arm skin.
2. Sensory neurones take an impulse to the relay neurones in the CNS.
3. A response is coordinated in the spinal cord so the impulse does not need to travel to the
brain - this makes the response faster therefore more likely to protect the body.
4. The impulse passes directly from a relay neurone to a motor neurone which carries the
impulse to an effector.
5. The effector carries out the response - in this case muscles moving the arm away from the
burning pan.
The pupil
The dilation and contraction of muscles in the iris control how much light enters the eye via the
pupil and is an example of a reflex. There are photosensitive cells on the retina of the eye that
are sensitive to light, these receptor cells are the start of the reflex arc that prevents damage
occurring to the retina. In low light levels the pupil dilate to allow more light in whereas in high light
levels the pupils constrict so less reaches the retina. The lens of the eye focuses the light on the
retina where the photoreceptors are located, specifically the fovea.
Action potentials
As previously mentioned, nerve cells are polarised in their resting state. This occurs as a result of
imbalance between sodium ions and potassium ions, thus giving the inside of the nerve cell a
negative charge in comparison to the external environment. As a result of the polarisation, there is
a difference in the voltage across the neurone membrane, with a value of -70mV known as the
resting potential.
This resting potential is generated as well as maintained with the help of sodium-potassium
pump which moves sodium ions out of the neurone thus creating an electrochemical gradient as
the concentration of sodium ions is higher outside the cell, this is because the membrane is not
permeable to sodium ions. The sodium-potassium pump is also involved in transporting the
potassium ions into the neurone. However, the potassium ions diffuse back out due to the
presence of potassium ion channels. As a result of that, the outside of the cell is positively
charged due to the imbalance of positively charged ions.
Upon stimulation, the neurone cell membrane becomes depolarised. This occurs as following:
1. Firstly, the excitation of neurone cell

triggered by stimulus causes the sodium
ion channels to open. As a result
making it more permeable to sodium ions
which subsequently diffuse into the
neurone down the electrochemical
gradient, making the inside less
negative.
2. Upon reaching the threshold of -55mV, even more sodium channels open eventually
giving a potential difference of +30mV which is the end of the depolarisation and start of
repolarisation. This is achieved as a result of sodium ion channels closing and
potassium ion channels opening.
3. The potassium ions diffuse out of the neurone down the concentration gradient and
eventually restore the resting potential. However, as the closing of potassium ion
channels is slightly delayed, this leads to hyperpolarisation i.e. when the potential
difference becomes greater than the resting potential.
4. The resting potential is then achieved with the help of the sodium-potassium pump which
returns the potential difference to the value of -70mV.
5. The action potential travels along the neurone as a wave of depolarisation where the
sodium ions move to the adjacent resting region where they trigger a change in potential
difference, thus stimulating another action potential.
Afterwards, there is a short period during which the neurone membrane cannot be excited as the
sodium channels enter the recovery stage. This period is known as the refractory period and
serves an important role in ensuring that the action potentials can pass in one direction only as
discrete signals.
Synapses
Synapses are junctions between two neurones.
Action potentials are passed from one neurone to the next across the synapse in the following way:
1. Upon the arrival of an action potential,

the presynaptic membrane
depolarises therefore causing the
calcium channels to open which
subsequently allow calcium ions to enter
the neurone.
2. The presence of calcium ions in the
neurone causes the fusion of synaptic
vesicles filled with a particular
neurotransmitter, such as acetylcholine,
to fuse with the presynaptic membrane.
Thus causing the release of
neurotransmitter into the synaptic
cleft, that is the gap between the two
neurones.
3. The neurotransmitter binds to the receptors located on the postsynaptic membrane
therefore stimulating the opening of cation channels which enable sodium ions to enter
the neurone.
4. As a result of that, the membrane depolarises therefore triggering another action
potential in the postsynaptic neurone.
This process only occurs if the neurotransmitter originates from an excitatory neurone. In the
case of inhibitory neurones, chloride ion channels open, thus causing hyperpolarisation of
the postsynaptic membrane therefore triggering a new action potential becomes more difficult.
This sequence of events is controlled with the help of digestive enzymes in the synaptic cleft
which serve to break down the neurotransmitter to prevent overstimulation of the post-synaptic
membrane. Following the breakdown of the neurotransmitter, it is taken up by the pre-synaptic
membrane and reused. Apart from this, the presence of receptors on one side of the synapse only,
that is the post-synaptic side serves to ensure that the action potential can only travel in
one direction only.
The effects of drugs on the nervous system
Many drugs, both legal and illegal, create their effects by altering the normal functioning of the
nervous system.
Nicotine - nicotine is carried by the tar in cigarette smoke and is absorbed in the lungs into the
bloodstream, reaching the brain in under 10 seconds. In the brain, nicotine mimics the effect of
the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and binds to cholinergic receptors at synapses, triggering
action potentials. Since acetylcholine is important in controlling things like mood, appetite and
memory, nicotine also affects these. Nicotine also increases levels of dopamine, which triggers
feelings of pleasure and reward, contributing to the drug’s addictiveness.
Lidocaine - Lidocaine is a local anaesthetic that numbs tissues in a specific area. It works by
blocking sodium ion channels and prevents neurones in affected areas from sending impulses
to the brain - meaning no feelings of pain are stimulated.
Cobra venom alpha toxin - Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter found at neuromuscular
junctions, so triggers muscle contractions. The cobra venom alpha toxin is a venom released by
some species of cobra that binds to acetylcholine receptors, including at neuromuscular
junctions. Instead of mimicking the effect of acetylcholine the venom instead blocks the receptors,
causing a postsynaptic block and meaning no action potential and therefore no muscle
contraction is generated - resulting in paralysis.
L-DOPA - The drug levodopa is used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease which occurs when
there is not enough dopamine in the brain. L-DOPA is a precursor to dopamine which can cross
the blood-brain barrier which dopamine cannot do. When in the central or peripheral nervous
system L-DOPA is then converted into dopamine, thereby reducing symptoms of Parkinson’s since
the level of dopamine in the brain is somewhat restored.
MDMA - MDMA causes the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin and dopamine into
synapses, leading to an increase in the binding of these to receptors on the postsynaptic
neurones. This fires action potentials that lead to euphoric feelings, increased sociability and
happiness. Once taken orally the effects of MDMA occur between 30-60 minutes after being
consumed and last between 2 and 6 hours.
Vision
Cells specialised for detection of stimuli are known as receptors. Sense organs, such as the
eye, are composed of groups of receptors.
Photoreceptors are light receptors located in the eye. Subsequently, the nerve impulses received
by the photoreceptors cells are then carried via the optic nerve to the brain. The point where the
optic nerve leaves the eye is known as the blind spot as there are no photoreceptor cells
located there. The two types of photoreceptors in the retina are cones involved in colour vision
whereas rods can only produce monochromatic vision. Apart from the type of vision they
provide, the two photoreceptors differ in their level of sensitivity – cones can only work in bright
conditions whereas rods are much more sensitive and dim light is sufficient for them to work.
Rods contain a light-sensitive pigment called rhodopsin which absorbs light energy and splits
into retinal and opsin.
In the dark, the rods aren’t stimulated as the sodium ions diffuse into the cell through open sodium
ion channels whilst being actively pumped out of the cell by active transport. As a result of that, the
inside of the cell is only slightly more negative compared to the outside, thus causing the
membrane to be slightly depolarised. Therefore, the release of neurotransmitter called
glutamate is released.
Glutamate serves to inhibit the neurones which connect the rod cells to the optic nerve, as a
result no information is transmitted to the brain. In the presence of light, the rhodopsin splits
into retinal and opsin. Opsin binds to the membrane of the cells thus causing the sodium ion to
close without affecting the transport of sodium ions out of the cell via active transport. Therefore
the membrane becomes hyperpolarised meaning no glutamate transmitter is released into the
synaptic cleft. Thus an action potential forms and is transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve
and subsequently processed by the brain.
Habituation
Habituation is a phenomenon where an organism becomes insensitive to repeated stimuli over
time which does not threaten their survival or does not benefit then in any way. It is a type of
learned behaviour. Examples include ignoring familiar sounds and responding to unfamiliar ones.
Habituation occurs when the calcium channels become less responsive, as a result reducing
the amount of calcium ions which cross the presynaptic membrane with the purpose of triggering
neurotransmitter release. As a consequence, less depolarisation of the post-synaptic membrane
occurs therefore no action potential is triggered.
Invertebrates such as snails, sea slugs and tortoises can be used to investigate habituation in a
similar way where the animal is repeatedly stimulated, for instance by tapping the shell of a tortoise
until it stops responding to the stimulus.
Chemical control in plants

Plants respond to external stimuli to increase their chance of survival. For instance, they exhibit
tropisms, that is growth responses controlled by a direction stimulus. An example of tropism
is phototropism where the direction of growth is determined by the direction of light.
Apart from being affected by light, plants are also affected by changes in day length. This kind of
sensitivity is known as photoperiodism where the plants flower and germinate in response to
day length. This response is coordinated by a photoreceptor called phytochrome. The
phytochrome exists in two states, PR which is the inactive form and PF R which is the active form.
The ratio of PR to PFR tells a plant what time of day it is and how
long days are lasting.
Plant growth is also controlled by indoleacetic acid (IAA) which is

an important auxin produced in the tips and shoots of flowering
plants. The Wdistribution of IAA around the plant controls tropism.
For instance, if IAA is unevenly distributed, it causes uneven
growth of the plant to occur.
When the shoot is illuminated from all sides, the auxins are distributed evenly and move down the
shoot tip thus causing elongation of cells across the zone of elongation. Whereas if the shoot is
only illuminated from one side, the auxins move towards the shaded part of the shoot thus causing
elongation of the shaded side only. This results in bending of the shoot towards the light.
Tropisms are directional growth responses of plants and include:
● Phototropism - the growth response to light, shoots exhibit positive phototropism as they
grow towards light, whereas roots exhibit negative phototropism and grow away from light
● Geotropism - a growth response to gravity. Roots grow with gravity thus they exhibit
positive geotropism, whereas shoots exhibit negative geotropism and oppose the force of
gravity
● Chemotropism - a growth response to chemicals
Plant growth responses can also be triggered by plant growth regulators. Examples include
auxins which promote cell elongation, gibberellins which promote seed germination and stem
growth, abscisic acid which inhibits seeds germination and causes closing of stomata and
ethane which is a gas that promotes ripening of fruit.
The brain
Brain structure
● Cerebrum - this is the largest part of the brain composed of two halves known as the
cerebral hemispheres. The cerebrum is involved in controlling vision, thinking, learning,
emotions as well as voluntary control of the body– collectively referred to as advanced
mental activity. The cerebrum contains many different parts:
○ Corpus callosum - a band that connects the two cerebral hemispheres
○ Parietal lobe - this controls orientation, movement, some types of recognition
and memory
○ Occipital lobe - located at the back of the cerebrum this is known as the visual
cortex
○ Temporal lobe - this processes auditory information
● Cerebellum - located underneath the cerebrum this plays an important role in

coordinating muscle movements as well as balance
● Hypothalamus - found just beneath the middle part of the brain this is involved in
thermoregulation as well as production of hormones that are involved in control of the
pituitary gland
● Medulla oblongata - located at the base of the brain this controls many vital body
processes such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure
● Pituitary gland - its main function is to secrete various hormones, such as oxytocin and
FSH. It’s located on the underside of the brain and attached to the hypothalamus
Observing the brain
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – MRI scanners use a magnetic field and radio waves for
imaging soft tissues such as the brain. MRI can be used for diagnosis as diseased tissue can be
seen, for instance in multiple sclerosis. It can be used to investigate brain structure and function
as well as medical diagnosis of tumours by helping to determine the exact size and location of the
tumour.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) – a modified version of MRI where the brain can
be seen in action whilst performing tasks as it monitors the uptake of oxygen. Similarly to MRI,
it can be used for studying brain structure and function in action. It can be used for medical
diagnosis of conditions which are caused by abnormal activity of the brain, such as seizures.
Computed tomography (CT) - uses radiation in the form of X-rays to produce cross-section
images of the brain. It is based on the idea that denser structures absorb more radiation than the
less dense ones, therefore they show up lighter on the scan. CT can be used to investigate brain
structure and function, for instance via studying damaged brain structure where loss of function is
seen. They can also be used for medical diagnosis as it shows up damaged/abnormal areas,
such as where bleeding in the brain occurs after a stroke.
Positron emission tomography (PET) - this is a form of imaging that looks

at metabolism in the body and shows where some areas are metabolising
more than others. The person being scanned is given a radioactive tracer
containing glucose which is taken into cells as they respire; the radioactivity
emitted from areas of high metabolism, such as in growing cancer, can be
detected by the PET scan. It can be used to help observe cancer growth
and spread and help diagnose dementia.
Illnesses of the brain
Imbalances in certain naturally-occurring brain chemicals can contribute to ill health in the
brain, such as parkinson's disease and depression.
Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that worsens over time. It is caused by

the destruction of neurones in a region of the midbrain called the substantia nigra. The result of
this cell death is that there is not enough dopamine in this area and this causes problems with
movement. Common early symptoms include shaking, stiffness and difficulty walking and as
Parkinson’s progresses many sufferers also develop dementia and depression.
There is currently no cure to Parkinson’s, largely due to the lack of knowledge and understanding
of its cause. However, it is treated with a drug called levodopa (L-DOPA) which aims to improve
the symptoms.
Depression
Depression is commonly caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, namely serotonin.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter made in the brain and needed for communication across the
nervous system. It is thought that low levels of one of the so-called ‘happy hormones’ leads to
lowered moods and depression.
Gene technology
Key words:
● Recombinant DNA - a piece of DNA containing DNA from more than 1 organism
● Transgenic organism - an organism containing recombinant DNA
● Sticky ends - small sections of unpaired and overhanging bases at the end of a DNA
fragment
● Genome - the complete set of genes in an organism
● Vector - something used to transfer the desired gene into another organism
● Gene therapy - altering the genes in human cells to treat genetic disorders
● cDNA - A complementary piece of DNA, commonly made from mRNA
Genetically modifying organisms to make drugs
Organisms including animals, plants and bacteria can be genetically modified to produce useful
substances such as drugs. For instance, bacteria are widely used today to produce human insulin
to be given to diabetics; the working human insulin gene is inserted in bacterial plasmids which are
taken up by bacteria and then transcribed and translated to produce insulin.
Making recombinant DNA
To make recombinant DNA the desired gene must first be isolated. This is often done using
restriction endonuclease enzymes which recognise and cut at sections of DNA either side of
the desired gene, isolating it.
Isolated DNA fragments can be placed in plasmids in a following way:

1. Plasmid and gene are cut with the same restriction enzyme to create complementary
ends. If sticky ends are missing, they can be added.
2. Plasmids are used as vectors to move the desired gene into other organisms because they
exist naturally and are small and easy to use.
3. The fragments are incubated with the plasmids and mixed with the enzyme DNA ligase.
If a plasmid takes up the insert, base pairing takes place between the complementary ends
which are then sealed with the use of DNA ligase which forms phosphodiester linkages.
4. A recombinant DNA molecule is created
Microarrays
Microarrays can be used to determine which genes are expressed within

cells of an organism. An array is set up containing the cDNA of the gene(s)
being tested for the presence of. The person’s fragmented DNA sample is
fluorescently labelled then washed over the array; if they contain the allele for
any of the gene probes on the array then their DNA will hybridise to the probe
and fluoresce, showing the gene is present.
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the science of collecting and analysing complex biological data such as
genetic codes. It can be used to build and store databases of genomes and gene sequences of
thousands of organisms, meaning it can be used to compare genetic relationships between
species and within species.
Modifying organisms
Microorganisms
In the formation of transgenic microorganisms, electroporation is used to stimulate bacterial cells
to take up transformed plasmids. Electroporation facilitates the process by increasing the
permeability of bacterial membranes thus increasing the chance of success. This is achieved via
the use of calcium salts and rapid temperature increase from 0 to 40 degrees. Bacteria which
have successfully taken up a plasmid can be identified with the help of marker genes.
For instance, if a plasmid contains an antibiotic resistance gene, the bacteria will be resistant to
the antibiotic, and if grown on the media, only the bacteria which have been successfully
transformed will survive. Other types of vectors include bacteriophages, liposomes and yeast.
Plants
One of the most common GM plants is rapeseed. A recombinant plasmid is produced as shown
above and then inserted into bacteria which can infect the rapeseed plant cells, inserting the
plasmid containing the desired gene into plant cells, transforming them.
Animals
Inserting recombinant DNA into animal cells can be done by modifying fertilised egg cells. This
is known as germ line therapy, since all resulting cells produced from the transformed zygote will
contain the desired gene, this is currently banned in humans however a type of gene therapy
known as somatic cell therapy which only transforms specific adult body cells is allowed.
Recombinant DNA can be inserted into host cells in the following ways:
● Virus - these infect host cells and insert their RNA and DNA into their genome
● Microinjection - using a very fine glass pipette to physically insert the desired DNA into
fertilised egg cells
● Microprojectile - inserting the DNA by firing it at very high speed into the cell
● Liposome wrapping - liposomes can fuse with the cell surface membrane and release
their contents inside of the cell and have been used to deliver recombinant DNA to cells
Risks and benefits of genetic modification
Benefits:
● GM crops are modified to have a higher yield, increased nutritional value and pest
resistance, all of which can help reduce malnutrition in third world countries.
● Medication and treatments (such as insulin for diabetics) can be produced quickly and
cheaply, making them more affordable
● Potential use for gene therapy in treating human disorders
● Can produce large quantities of enzymes cheaply which can then be used as catalysts
industrially
Risks:
● Could lead to monoculture of farmers growing only 1 GM crop, leading to reduced
biodiversity
● Superweeds could arise if genes for herbicide and pest resistance get into the rest of the
environment through breeding with GM plants
● Genetic modification of humans can be seen as unethical and lead to designer babies
and prejudices against those with genetic disorders
● Companies who own genetic modification technology could seek to profit out of it further
and limit the use of technology that could save lives

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Edexcel IAL Biology A Level

Topic 8: Coordination, Response and

This work by PMT Education is licensed under https://bit.ly/pmt-cc

Spinal reflex arc

The central nervous system is made up of 2

The​ reflex arc​ is an ​automatic response

1. Firstly, the ​excitation ​of neurone cell

Synapses are junctions between two neurones.

1. Upon the arrival of an action potential,

The effects of drugs on the nervous system

Chemical control in plants

Plant growth is also controlled by​ indoleacetic acid (IAA)​ which is

Tropisms are directional growth responses of plants and include:

● Chemotropism ​- a growth response to ​chemicals

● Cerebellum ​- located underneath the cerebrum this plays an important role in

Observing the brain

Positron emission tomography (PET) ​- this is a form of imaging that looks

Parkinson’s is a​ progressive neurodegenerative disease ​that worsens over time. It is caused by

Depression is commonly caused by an ​imbalance of chemicals in the brain,​ namely ​serotonin​.

Genetically modifying organisms to make drugs

Isolated DNA fragments can be placed in plasmids in a following way:

Microarrays can be used to determine ​which genes are expressed within

Risks and benefits of genetic modification

You might also like

The reflex arc is an automatic response

1. Firstly, the excitation of neurone cell

Plant growth is also controlled by indoleacetic acid (IAA) which is

● Chemotropism - a growth response to chemicals

● Cerebellum - located underneath the cerebrum this plays an important role in

Positron emission tomography (PET) - this is a form of imaging that looks

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that worsens over time. It is caused by

Depression is commonly caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, namely serotonin.

Microarrays can be used to determine which genes are expressed within