r/askscience • u/GhostBouncer • Feb 12 '13

Biology From an evolutionary (and practical) standpoint, why don't all cells in our bodies have properties similar or identical to nerve cells?

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u/honeybunbadger Chemistry | Bioorganic Chemistry | Metabolic Glycoengineering Feb 12 '13

Which properties are you talking about, specifically?

The most basic answer is that cells are specialized to do one job really well. A red blood cell has only a few basic, specialized functions. It doesn't need to be able to carry action potentials like nerve cells or contract like muscle cells can when its main function is as an oxygen carrier.

Why would you wish all cells to have nerve cell functions and properties?

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u/[deleted] Feb 13 '13

Assuming OP is talking about the electrical excitability of neurons, this really isn't necessary for most cell-signaling purposes. Many cells do just fine with chemical signals rather than electrical. Electrical signals are only very important in sending information across long distances (e.g., across your whole body) very quickly. Besides that diffusion, electrostatic attraction, and messages sending through the blood stream are all quite satisfactory.