Question

you are studying the genes of fruit flies. your partner claims that each gene matches a specific body part such as head wings and tail. how would you argue for or against this claim.

Answer 1

Hox genes are the master regulators of embryonic development for all animals, including humans, flies and worms. They decide what body parts go where. Not surprisingly, if something goes wrong with these genes, the results can be disastrous.

In Drosophila, the fruit fly, a Hox mutation can produce profound changes--an extra pair of wings, for example, or a set of legs, instead of antennae, growing from the fly's head.

"The job of the Hox genes is to tell cells early on in embryonic development what to become--whether to make an eye, an antenna or wings," says Robert Drewell, associate professor of biology at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif. "Just a single mutation in the Hox gene can produce these dramatic anomalies."

Answer 2

Answer:

Homeotic genes are involved in the development and differentiation of cells and tissues. The classification of homeotic genes is known as the Hox gene. They describe the body system of the developing embryo. In flight, different hox genes are expressed in specific areas of their body. For example, genes that promote limb formation are expressed in the thoracic fly area. Fruit is an insect with about 14,000 genes. Thus, each gene does not belong to a specific body part, but each of the Hox genes is expressed in a specific part of the body.

Hox genes are major regulators of embryonic development of all animals, including humans, flies, and worms. They decide which parts of the body to go to. Not surprisingly, if something goes wrong with these genes, the results can be disastrous.

In Drosophila, the fruit fly, the Hox mutation can produce profound changes - an additional pair of wings, for example, or a set of legs, instead of horns, that grow from the fly's head.

"The function of the Hox gene is to tell the cells at the beginning of embryonic development what they should be - to make an eye, say or wings," said Robert Drewell, associate professor of biology at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif.  "Just one genetic modification of the Hox gene could reveal these amazing mutations.

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