3) The sex of some reptiles, including the American alligator, is determined by the temperature at which the eggs are incubated. For example,
incubating them at 33°C produces mostly males, while incubation at 30°C
produces mostly females. Scientists recently discovered a thermosensor
protein, TRPV4, that is associated with this process in American alligators.
TRPV4 is activated by temperatures near the mid-30s, and increases the
movement of calcium ions into certain cells involved with sex
determination. The results of this scientific investigation will most likely
lead other scientists to hypothesize that
a. human sex cells also contain the TRPV4 protein
b. the TRPV4 protein affects the growth of plants
c. other reptiles may have the TRPV4 protein in their eggs
d. the TRPV4 protein is present in all of the foods eaten by alligators