Body Plans Flashcards
what is morphogenisis?
the regulation of the pattern of anatomical development.
why are fruit flies (drosophila) popular in genetic studies?
- easy to keep.
- short life cycle.
- small.
- quick breeding cycle (1000 offspring at a time)
- easy to tell females and males apart.
what are homeobox genes?
a group of genes which all contain a homeobox.
what is a homeobox?
a section of DNA 190 base pairs long coding for a homeodomain.
what is a homeodomain?
the part of the protein 60 amino acids long that is highly conserved. it binds to DNA and switches other genes on or off.
Are homeobox genes regulatory genes?
yes
what is an example of a homeobox gene?
Pax6
what happens when Pax6 is mutated?
causes a form of blindless due to underdevelopment of the retina in humans.
how are hox genes found?
in gene clusters.
how many gene clusters do humans have?
4
how many gene clusters do fruit flies have?
2
what is the role of hox genes?
responsible for the correct positioning of body parts.
what is the role of hox genes?
responsible for the correct positioning of body parts.
