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You are designing an artificial organ that requires all of its cells to communicate with one another effectively for proper functioning. What type of cell junctions should you include when designing such an organ?

User Halbano
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Final answer:

To ensure effective communication in an artificial organ, gap junctions should be incorporated as they allow direct transfer of ions and molecules between animal cells, unlike tight junctions or desmosomes.

Step-by-step explanation:

When designing an artificial organ that requires all of its cells to communicate with one another effectively, the type of cell junctions to include are gap junctions. Gap junctions are specialized intercellular connections between animal cells that allow for direct transfer of ions and molecules between cells, facilitating rapid and coordinated communication essential for the functioning of tissues. This contrasts with other cell junctions such as tight junctions, which act as barriers to prevent leakage of extracellular fluid across a layer of epithelial cells, and desmosomes, which provide strong adhesion between cells but do not facilitate communication.

For plant cells, communication occurs through plasmodesmata, which are similar to gap junctions in that they allow cells to share substances but are structurally different due to the presence of a cell wall in plant cells. The design of the artificial organ should focus on incorporating gap junctions for effective cell-to-cell communication.

User Hugo Alonso
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