<p>If an effect of binding the neurotransmitter depends on the receptor type, not the neurotransmitter itself, then why don't we have just one neurotransmitter and many different receptors?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-08T15:35:34.810Z
https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/35532/why-do-some-bad-traits-evolve-and-good-ones-dont is likely relevant, though there are also places where multiple neurotransmitters are used in close proximity where they wouldn't be interchangeable.
Bryan Krause
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2022-02-15T12:58:35.877Z
The question "why do we have multiple neurotransmitters/receptors" is indeed interesting imo, but how well a ligand binds to a receptor depends on its molecular geometry. Some neurotransmitters might bind fairly well to multiple receptors, but globally to each receptor its neurotransmitter.
David Cian
<neuroscience><neurophysiology><evolution><neuro-transmitters>
Why are there different neurotransmitters in central nervous system?
miszo
# Why are there different neurotransmitters in central nervous system?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-02-08)

If an effect of binding the neurotransmitter depends on the receptor type, not the neurotransmitter itself, then why don't we have just one neurotransmitter and many different receptors?

**Tags:** neuroscience, neurophysiology, evolution, neuro-transmitters

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/35532/why-do-some-bad-traits-evolve-and-good-ones-dont is likely relevant, though there are also places where multiple neurotransmitters are used in close proximity where they wouldn't be interchangeable.  
> **username_2**: The question "why do we have multiple neurotransmitters/receptors" is indeed interesting imo, but how well a ligand binds to a receptor depends on its molecular geometry. Some neurotransmitters might bind fairly well to multiple receptors, but globally to each receptor its neurotransmitter.  

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