Given that changes in morphology are often caused by changes in the regulation of gene expression, predict whether noncoding DNA is likely to be affected by natural selection. See Concept 18.3 to review noncoding DNA and regulation of gene expression.

The field of genetics describes an inheritance unit found in biological organisms; thisheredity unit is responsible for holding information to encode proteinin the living cell and is called a gene.

The regulatory process in which a gene is expressed and its nucleotide sequence is used by the cell to make RNA and then convert it into a protein molecule is called gene expression.

Biological organisms can show the adaptation and variation in their novel environment to make new offspring. This mechanism occurs due to natural selection.

The variety of beaks found in Galapagos finches is an example of natural selection.

Natural selection strongly affects the noncoding genome or DNA (do not instruct gene to synthesize protein). This is due to the alteration of gene expression regulation (switching on and off) by control elements contained within a DNA.