End of Module Review and Resources

We hope that you have learned:

Sugar is detected in the body by specialized sensory cells.

These cells perceive the chemical structures of our food and transmit that information to our brains. Both sugar and artificial sweeteners stimulate these sensory cells, called taste receptors. When the taste receptors are activated, the cell responds by sending a message through signal transduction pathways. This multi-step pathway causes neurotransmitters to be released, which trigger neighboring nerve cells to alert the brain to the sweet taste. YUM!

What happens if the detection system is disrupted, like after eating or drinking Gymnema?

There are many places along the pathway where the signal can be disrupted. Gymnema is a long molecule with a glucose-shaped structure at one end. It is likely that the Gymnema molecule blocks the taste receptors without triggering them. With the blockage, glucose and other sweeteners cannot enter the receptors. With no signal perception at the receptor, the signal pathway is disrupted. The brain never receives the YUM!

Can you label the following Level 1 or Level 2 pictures? Give it a try!

Helpful resources for this lesson can be found below