Rodents are a diverse group of mammals that belong to the order Rodentia. They are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws, which must be kept short by gnawing. This group includes animals such as mice, rats, squirrels, beavers, and capybaras.
Rodents play a key role in various ecosystems as seed dispersers, soil aerators, and food sources for predators. However, they can also be agricultural pests and vectors of diseases such as hantavirus and Lyme disease.
From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to describe the function and diversity of organelles and structures in various types of cells (e.g., muscle cells having a large amount of mitochondria, plasmids in bacteria, chloroplasts in plant cells).