Why do you need nerve cells?

Answer 1

Organisms need nerve cells to respond to the environment. Plants respond to the environment through reactions to and the production of chemicals. Animals often have to react more quickly to the environment to avoid danger, capture food, secure a mate etc.

Nerve cells in humans allow us to think (the brain), see, avoid pain and danger. There is a rare disorder where people do not feel pain. This is very dangerous as the can break a limb or bleed without knowing they are injured.

Answer 2

I’ll keep this brief and simple and kind of generic: Nerve cells’ special power is communication with other nerve cells (aka neurons). Two very cool features allow this: specialized chemicals known as neurotransmitters and electrical potentials made possible by a cell membrane with dynamic permeability. First, they make neurotransmitters - molecules they release into the synapse (space between neurons) and they bind with neuro-receptors on the next neuron. Next, the neurotransmitters binding with receptors change the cell membrane’s permeability to allow ions in or out of the cell (electrically charged atoms like calcium or sodium) which makes the neuron more or less “excited”. If excited enough, an electrical charge travels rapidly the length of the axon where at the end, neurotransmitters are released into the synapse starting the process over in the next neuron. Sensory nerve cells translate environmental energy into neural energy, like light or sound waves. Motor neurons release a specific neurotransmitter (Acetylcholine) that binds with receptors on the surface of muscle fibers which cause them to contract.

Answer 3

To move, walk, and pick up stuff.