Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026
07:34
The Power of Simplicity: Sea Urchin Embryos as in Vivo Developmental Models for Studying Complex Cell-to-cell Signaling Network Interactions
Published on: February 16, 2017
Evolution of signalling systems with multiple senders and receivers
1Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, University of California Irvine, 3151 Social Science Plaza A, Irvine, CA 92717-5100, USA. bskyrms@uci.edu
Summary
Sender-receiver games model information transmission and the evolution of meaning. Their study reveals insights into signaling networks, information processing, and group decision-making dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Game Theory
- Information Theory
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Sender-receiver games are fundamental models for understanding how information is transmitted and how meaning evolves.
- These games offer a tractable framework to study the dynamics of evolution and learning in communication systems.
- Generalizations extend these models to complex signaling networks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the equilibrium structures and evolutionary dynamics of sender-receiver games.
- To investigate the role of these games in the evolution of meaning.
- To analyze generalizations of sender-receiver games as signaling networks.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of equilibrium structures in sender-receiver games.
- Modeling the dynamics of evolution and learning within these games.
- Generalizing binary sender-receiver games to multi-sender/multi-receiver scenarios.
Main Results:
- Sender-receiver games provide a basis for studying the evolution of meaning.
- Analysis reveals insights into the dynamics of evolution and learning, sometimes with surprising outcomes.
- Generalized games form the basis of signaling networks.
Conclusions:
- Sender-receiver games are essential for understanding information transmission and meaning evolution.
- Signaling networks, derived from generalized games, are key to information processing, group decisions, and teamwork.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Signal and System
A signal x(t) is a set of data or a time function representing a variable of interest. Signals typically convey information about a phenomenon, such as atmospheric temperature, humidity, human voice, television images, a dog's bark, or birdsongs. More generally, a signal can be a function of more than one independent variable. For instance, images depend on horizontal and vertical positions and can be regarded as two-dimensional signals. However, this text will focus on one-dimensional signals...
01:23Overview of Cell Signaling
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
01:23Overview of Cell Signaling
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
01:24Intracellular Signaling Cascades
Once a ligand binds to a receptor, the signal is transmitted through the membrane and into the cytoplasm. The continuation of a signal in this manner is called signal transduction. Signal transduction only occurs with cell-surface receptors, which cannot interact with most components of the cell, such as DNA. Only internal receptors can interact directly with DNA in the nucleus to initiate protein synthesis. When a ligand binds to its receptor, conformational changes occur that affect the...
01:24Intracellular Signaling Cascades
Once a ligand binds to a receptor, the signal is transmitted through the membrane and into the cytoplasm. The continuation of a signal in this manner is called signal transduction. Signal transduction only occurs with cell-surface receptors, which cannot interact with most components of the cell, such as DNA. Only internal receptors can interact directly with DNA in the nucleus to initiate protein synthesis. When a ligand binds to its receptor, conformational changes occur that affect the...
01:32Types of Signaling Molecules
In multicellular organisms, many molecules transmit signals between cells to pass information. These signals vary in complexity and include small peptides, nucleotides, steroids, fatty acid derivatives, and dissolved gases such as nitric oxide. Some signaling molecules diffuse through the plasma membrane to act locally between neighboring cells or travel long distances. Others remain attached to the cell surface, transmitting information to other cells only when they make contact. In some...