Learning Objectives:

2.C.2: Organisms respond to changes in their external environments.

2.E.1:  Timing and coordination of specific events are necessary for the normal development of an organism, and these events are regulated by a variety of mechanisms.

3.A.1:  DNA, and in some cases, RNA, is the primary source of heritable information.

3.A.2:  In eukaryotes, heritable information is passed to the next generation via processes that include the cell cycle and mitosis or meiosis plus fertilization.

3.B.1:  Gene regulation results in differential gene expression, leading to cell specialization.

3.B.2:  A variety of intercellular and intracellular signal transmissions mediate gene expression.

4.B.1:  Interactions between molecules affect their structure and function.

4.C.2: Environmental factors influence the expression of the genotype in an organism.