a.
To determine:
The signal and the switch in the sex determination pathway of Drosophila.
Introduction:
It is given that sex-determination in Drosophila depends on the number of X chromosomes such that the ratio of X chromosomes to sets of autosomes is 1 in females and 0.5 in males.
b.
To describe:
The tra- and ix- mutant
Introduction:
It is given that female flies have XX chromosomes and male flies have XY chromosomes in Drosophila. The tra and ix genes play an important role in sex determination of Drosophila.
c.
To determine:
The mutant phenotype of tra- ix- null double mutants and the mutation that would be epistatic.
Introduction:
When the phenotype of one gene depends on the presence of one or more modifier genes, this phenomenon is termed as epistasis. Null mutation makes a gene completely non-functional.
d.
To determine:
The reason due to which the epistatic mutation does not play a role in the sex determination pathway as it does in the eye development pathway.
Introduction:
It is given that the epistatic mutation defined the downstream gene in the eye development pathway. This is not the case in the sex-determination pathway.
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 18 Solutions
Genetics: From Genes to Genomes, 5th edition
- Explain the Drosophila genetics tool for gene expression known as the UAS-GAL4 systemarrow_forwardExplain how the Sxl promoter “counts” the number of Xchromosomes in Drosophila.arrow_forwardBriefly explain how the Dorsal protein is redistributed in the formation of the Drosophila embryo and how this redistribution helps to establish the dorsal–ventral axis of the fruit fly.arrow_forward
- A Drosophila egg that is bed lbcd may develop normally, but the adult fruit fly will not be able to produce viable offspring. How is this possible? The mother can provide the bcd mRNA required for normal development, but the adult bcd /bcd female fly cannot make its own bcd mRNA. The Hox genes in the egg play a redundant role to bcd during development in a bcd / bcd egg, but reproduction requires bcd. Drosophila sperm contains the functional bcd gene product required for normal development, but the adult sex cells will not be able to produce the functional product. The nanos gene product functionally compensates for lack of bcd expression in the developing fly but not in its offspring.arrow_forwardExplain what a morphogen is, and describe how it exerts its effects. What do you expect will happen when a morphogen is expressed in the wrong place in an embryo? List five examples of morphogens that function in Drosophila.arrow_forwardExplain about how X chromosome inactivation takes place in mammals at the chromosomal and molecular level. B. What genes are involved in inactivating a human X chromosome? . C. What role does X chromosome-specific inactivating transcript --XIST-- non coding RNA play in the inactivation of the human X chromosome.arrow_forward
- Discuss the morphological differences between the parasegments and segments of Drosophila. Discuss the evidence, providing specific examples, that suggests the parasegments of the embryo are the subdivisions for the organization of gene expression.arrow_forwardDescribe the expression pattern of the Drosophila geneeve in the early embryo.arrow_forwardYou are interested in the expression of regions of the X chromosome at different times in human fetal development. You hypothesize that large regions of the X chromosomes will be expressed at times when parts of the reproductive organs are developing. What structural and chemical characteristics of the X chromosome might you look at over time to determine when expression of genes on the X chromosome is enhanced or repressed?arrow_forward
- Describe the relationship between homeotic genes in Drosophila and in mice.arrow_forwardSex Determination A .Compare sex determination in humans (what genetically and biochemically determines male vs female) and compare this to sex determination in Drosophila fruit flies what genetically and biochemically determines male vs female in fruit flies). B. What roles do the genes for a) sisterless, b) sex lethal (sxl) , tra (transformer gene) and dsx-f (double sex) play in Drosophila sex determinationarrow_forwardExplain how alternative splicing affects sex determination in Drosophila.arrow_forward
- Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305389892Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage Learning