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Page Facing Up

Theme B - Form & Function

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Direct Hit

Theme A - Unity & diversity

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Pill

Theme C - Interaction &  Interdependence

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Keycap Digit One

Theme D - Continuity & Change

<ul>
	<li>Cell-to-Cell Junctions! These are like the BFF bracelets that cells wear to connect with their neighbors. They&#39;re the reason our cells don&rsquo;t just scatter around aimlessly.</li>
	<li>What makes this friendship bracelet? Cell-adhesion molecules or CAMs! Every cell has these special molecules in their plasma membranes that help them &quot;hold hands&quot; with other cells.</li>
</ul>

Imagine a duck floating on a pond. The duck&#39;s body under the water is the part of the CAM buried in the cell membrane (phospholipid bilayer) and the head popping out is the part of the CAM facing the world outside (extracellular domain).

<ul>
	<li>Same-Same CAMs: Sometimes, cells have the same type of CAMs. This is like two pieces of the same puzzle fitting together. The result? A group of similar cells come together like a club of people who all love the same music!</li>
	<li>Mix-Match CAMs: Other times, CAMs are different in two cells. Think of this as two different puzzle pieces that can still fit together. This is handy when we need various types of cells to form a more intricate design. It&rsquo;s like putting together a band with different instruments!</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Architecture and Function: Just like how cities have roads, buildings, and parks that are all planned out, cells need to stick together in a certain way to maintain the structure of tissues and organs. It ensures everything works in harmony.</li>
	<li>The Good &amp; Bad Gatekeepers
	<ul>
		<li>Some cell junctions are like VIP club bouncers. They prevent certain substances from moving between cells.</li>
		<li>Others are more welcoming and help substances move between cells. They&rsquo;re the party hosts of the cellular world!</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Fight the Invaders: When our body is attacked by germs, CAMs play a major role in our immune system, helping cells come together to fend off these tiny invaders.</li>
	<li>Cancer&#39;s Nemesis: Tumors are groups of rogue cells. CAMs in tumors prevent these cells from breaking away and traveling to other parts of the body to cause more harm. So, if CAMs are like the school&#39;s principal, they stop the mischievous students (cancer cells) from causing chaos in other classrooms (parts of the body).</li>
</ul>

✨ Real-World Example: Think of CAMs like the zip on a jacket. Just like how a zip brings two separate parts of a jacket together, CAMs connect cells. If the zip was broken or wasn&#39;t there, the jacket would be open, and it wouldn&#39;t function properly. Similarly, without CAMs, our tissues and organs wouldn&#39;t hold their shape or work correctly.

&nbsp;

🌟 Final Thoughts: Without these intricate systems of cell adhesion, our bodies would be like a pile of sand, where each grain easily drifts away. Thanks to CAMs, we are more like a magnificent sandcastle, where each grain (cell) sticks together, forming a beautiful and functional structure! 🏰🔬🧬

Theme B - Form & Function

Unlocking Cell Adhesion The Key to Tissue Formation

Table of content

What's holding us together? 🔗

Let's paint a picture of CAMs 🎨

Lock & key - CAMs in action 🔐

Unlock the Full Content!

Theme B - Form & Function

Unlocking Cell Adhesion The Key to Tissue Formation

Table of content

What's holding us together? 🔗

Let's paint a picture of CAMs 🎨

Lock & key - CAMs in action 🔐

Unlock the Full Content!