The Four Steps of Signaling in Multicellular Organisms

Cells in multicellular organisms are constantly receiving hundreds or even thousands of different signals. And based on the combination and intensity of these, it will sort of decide what to do. The time that it takes for the signal to have its effect depends on how long the signaling molecules take to be degraded. If they metabolize very quickly, then if the source is turned off, then almost immediately that will be felt at the target. Whereas if it has a very long half life, then it takes a long time for the amount of that signal to change. So some signals you want to be very quick acting like blood clotting need to be tabellized rapidly. Other processes such as developmental