BioStart's products contain signal molecules. These complex molecules can be used to selectively activate indigenous beneficial bacteria and fungi. The signal molecules set off a sequence of biochemical reactions within the targeted organism effectively telling it to awaken from dormancy, reproduce or to elicit defence mechanisms. This whole process can take place in as little time as a millisecond or as long as a few seconds. In many Signal Molecule processes, an increasing number of enzymes and other molecules become engaged in the events that proceed from the initial stimulus. In such cases the chain of steps is referred to as a " signaling cascade " or "second messenger pathway" and the result is that a small stimulus elicits a large response. In bacteria and other one-cell organisms , the variety of signal transduction processes of which the cell is capable influences how many ways it can react and respond to its environment. The same is true of animals and plants . Sensing in all forms of life depends, at the cellular level, on signal transduction.