Elephant Fetus

    The organic molecules that the mother elephant consumes like carbohydrates and lipids, will help the fetus develop. Organic molecules enter and leave the fetus' cells through passive and active transport. Small uncharged molecules from the food the expecting elephant consumed would be transported through the cell membrane of the fetus' cells through simple diffusion. Water is transported to the fetus' cells  through the process of osmosis, which is when water crosses a semipermeable membrane. Active transport and facilitated diffusion allows larger and charged molecules like sodium and potassium to cross through the membrane, nourishing the cells of the fetus.
  


If something goes wrong with the growth of the cells in the fetus it could be detrimental to the fetus' growth. Specifically, if the cells in the lungs don't develop fully, then the newborn elephant could die of suffocation. In one case there was an Elephant in the zoo who was giving birth and her baby was not moving, so she began to kick it to help the lungs open, since something went wrong with the cell growth.