Campbell Biology (11th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-13409-341-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-13409-341-3

Chapter 2 - Test Your Understanding - Level 3 - Synthesis/Evaluation - Page 43: 11

Answer

For the male moth to detect the specific sex hormone of its female counterpart, it would need a receptor for that hormone. This predicts that the male will have a receptor, probably a protein, and that the hormone will bind to the receptor. This could be tested by making a radioactive version of the hormone and placing it with the cells which should have a receptor. When the protein is purified, the bound radioactivity should purify with it.

Work Step by Step

They key here is to see that a chemical signal needs a receptor to which it can bind. From there, you need to imagine a way that the receptor/binding can be detected.
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