Cell Signaling
<p><b>Cell signalling</b> (<b>Cell signaling</b> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_English" title="American English">American English</a>) is part of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_system" title="Complex system">complex system</a> of communication that governs basic cellular activities and coordinates cell actions. The ability of cells to perceive and correctly respond to their microenvironment is the basis of development, tissue repair, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immunity_%28medical%29" title="Immunity (medical)">immunity</a> as well as normal tissue <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeostasis" title="Homeostasis">homeostasis</a>. Errors in cellular information processing are responsible for diseases such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer" title="Cancer">cancer</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoimmunity" title="Autoimmunity">autoimmunity</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes" title="Diabetes" class="mw-redirect">diabetes</a>. By understanding cell signaling, diseases may be treated effectively and, theoretically, artificial tissues may be created.<sup class="Template-Fact" >[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a></i>]</sup></p>
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Traditional work in biology has focused on studying individual parts of cell signaling pathways. </p>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_biology" title="Systems biology">Systems biology</a> research helps us to understand the underlying structure of cell signaling networks and how changes in these networks may affect the transmission and flow of information. </p>
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Such networks are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_systems" title="Complex systems">complex systems</a> in their organization and may exhibit a number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergent_properties" title="Emergent properties" class="mw-redirect">emergent properties</a> including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bistability" title="Bistability">bistability</a> and ultrasensitivity. </p>
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Analysis of cell signaling networks requires a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches including the development and analysis of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulations" title="Simulations" class="mw-redirect">simulations</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_modelling" title="Scientific modelling">modeling</a>.<sup class="Template-Fact" >[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a></i>]</sup> </p>
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Long-range <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allostery" title="Allostery" class="mw-redirect">allostery</a> is often a significant component of cell signaling events.<sup id="cite_ref-pmid21570668_1-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_signaling#cite_note-pmid21570668-1">[1</a></sup></p>