Evolution: A View from the 21st Century

I. Sensing, Signaling, and Decision-Making in Cell Reproduction

In this part:

• How E. coli chooses the best sugar to eat

• Proofreading DNA replication

• DNA damage repair and mutagenesis

• Cell cycle checkpoints

• Signaling from the cell surface to the genome: pheromone response in the sexually aroused yeast cell

• The role of intercellular signals in the cell death decision

• Revisiting the central dogma of molecular biology

Living cells do not operate blindly. They continually acquire information about the external environment and monitor their internal operations. Then they use this information to guide the processes essential to survival, growth, and reproduction. Cells constantly adjust their metabolism to available nutrients, control ...